§ MR. DAVID THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to a statement made recently by a naval officer of high rank to the effect that our depôts abroad were unprovided with patent fuel; and if he can state the quantities of patent fuel made 15 of high - class Cardiff coal which have been manufactured on account of, or purchased by, the Admiralty during the last three years for shipment to the Mediterranean and more distant depôts.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe question of supplying a good quality of patent fuel for use in the Navy was examined by an Admiralty Committee in 1898, and, in accordance with the Report of that Committee, and as the result of exhaustive trials, orders were given, in 1900, for the manufacture of patent fuel of the selected type. "Since that date additional orders have been given, and the fuel has been distributed in required quantities to various depôts abroad.