§ GENERAL RUSSELL (Cheltenham)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the statement that a firm in Cardiff has contracted to supply a foreign Government with 400,000 tons of coal; and whether, in view of this large order, means will be taken to secure that a sufficient reserve of coal be retained in this country for any possible requirements of the British Navy.
MR. GOSCHENMy attention has been drawn to the rumour that a firm in Cardiff has contracted to supply a foreign Government with 400,000 tons of coal, but diligent inquiries at Cardiff have so far 577 not resulted in any confirmation of the statement. I need scarcely say, whether the statement is correct or not, the subject of assuring to ourselves sufficient supplies of coal for naval requirements is one which is never out of the mind of the Board of Admiralty.