§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the increased space for coal storage at Malta that has been secured since January 1900, and at what cost; also the proportion by which the coal now in store at Malta has increased over the maximum amount that was in store in January 1900; and what the proportion of coal stored at Malta was to the i.h.p. of the Fleet in January 1900, and what the same proportion is at the present date.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY(Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast. W.It is not considered to be to the public advantage to give the detailed particulars asked for by the noble Lord. I may say, however, that in pursuance of orders given by the First Lord of the Admiralty on February 5, 1900, the store of coal at Malta has been progressively and largely increased as additional storage space has become, available, and that it is now adequate to supply the ordinary needs and to furnish a reserve for the high-powered ships which form the majority of the Fleet upon the station.
In reply to a question by Mr. MARKHAM, which was inaudible in the Press Gallery,
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERsaid a certain proportion of patent fuel was stored at Malta in addition to coal.