§ MR. HARWOODI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if his attention has been called to the fact that the exports of coal from this country to France have increased during two years from 2,670,000 tons to 4,230,000 tons for a period of six months.
§ MR. FIRBANK (Hull, E.)I beg at the same time to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the supplies of coal which are daily being shipped to foreign countries for storage for naval purposes; and whether, as the Government are bringing in a Bill to check the exportation of arms, ammunition, and military and naval stores from Great Britain, he will consider the desirability of extending the provisions of the Bill so as to include so important a munition of war as steam coal for foreign navies.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI believe the facts as regards the export of coal are as 1314 stated. The Bill which awaits Third Reading in the House of Lords does apply to coal as well as to other naval and military stores.