§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN () GatesheadI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the firm of Furness, Withy, and Company, of Hartlepool, sent to the Admiralty a design for swift armed screw colliers fully twelve months ago; whether this design of vessel was approved by the Controller; and whether such vessels should now be contracted for so as to follow any fleet with coal supplies.
§ * MR. MACARTNEYA design for an armed screw collier was sent to the Admiralty by that firm, in July, 1898. The speed was 10¼ knots. The design was not approved by the Controller. There is no intention of contracting for a collier of that type and speed.