§ MR. HEDDERWICKI beg to ask the First Lord of the Amiralty if he will state the quantity of naval steam coal at present stored at ports in the United Kingdom and in British coaling stations abroad; and whether such coal is protected by covering sheds or otherwise from the disintegrating and wasting effects of atmospheric action.
MR. GOSCHENIt is not in the interests of the public service to give the information asked for in the first paragraph of the question. Coal at foreign stations is generally protected by covering sheds, but not in the home ports where the turn-over is rapid.