§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the condition of the defences of Cardiff, and more especially Barry, in the event of war, has been reconsidered by the Admiralty during recent years; and whether, having regard to the importance of a regular supply of steam coal at home and abroad to Her Majesty's Navy and the mercantile marine, lie will impress upon the War Office the necessity of immediately and effectually safeguarding the principal sources of supply by placing in a more efficient state the land defences of the ports from which such supplies are chiefly obtained; I beg also to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the important factor Welsh coal has become in the fighting equipment of modern vessels of war, the Admiralty will consider the expediency of making Cardiff a naval port or base and concentrate there a depot and the necessary craft?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareWith regard to the honourable Member's first Question, I have nothing to add to the answers given by the Under Secretary of State for War. In reply to the second Question, it is not proposed to make Cardiff a naval port.