§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has received any confirmation of the rumour that the stoppage in the South Wales and Monmouthshire coal trade would extend to those non-associated collieries from which the Admiralty have latterly been mainly supplied, and which he stated to be the simple reason for countermanding the naval manœuvres this year; and, should the rumour prove to have been unfounded, will the countermanding order be cancelled; and should, on the other hand, the rumour prove to be correct, and the present sources of supply be closed, will he say what objection, if any, there would be to holding the naval manœuvres upon the general resumption of work at the collieries in South Wales?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYI have no further information as to the probability or improbability of the strike extending to the non-associated collieries. If the honourable Member is in a position to give me any information on the subject, I shall be much obliged to him. Naval manœuvres cannot be ordered or countermanded from week to week. Different arrangements have now been made for the Channel Squadron, the Reserve Squadron, and the other ships which would have taken part in the manœuvres, and for the officers who would have been employed. The decision is final.
§ MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)May I ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the fact that contracts have recently been made with coalowners in Monmouthshire to supply coal to the Navy, and whether he can state that an opportunity will be given to the Northumberland owners to tender for the same contracts?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYI prefer notice of these matters. I can only say generally that Northumberland owners would not have tendered for the same service as the Welsh owners, 31 the Northumberland coal not being employed in the same manner.
MR. J. WILSON (Falkirk)Has the right honourable Gentleman received any reports with regard to Scotch coal?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! Scotch coal does not arise out of the Question.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps the Government propose to take to meet the difficulty experienced by the Naval Department that at no time is there any stock of coal held at Cardiff by colliery owners or coal merchants beyond that held in loaded wagons?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYI think on the whole it is better that buyers and consumers should not prematurely reveal their plans to producers and sellers.