§ MR. OSMOND WILLIAMS (Merionethshire). I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of accepting the offer of a port in South Wales as a Government coaling station and store depôt, which port lies within some nine or ten miles of a number of collieries upon the Admiralty list, and was offered at a rate which would practically render it self-supporting, and at which arrangements could be made for the storage of 300,000 to 500,000 tons of smokeless South Wales coal, which could be loaded at all times without dislocation of trade in South Wales or the payment of any emergency prices.
§ MR. PRETYMANIt is not considered desirable to accept the offer, as no circumstances, in the opinion of the Admiralty, are likely to arise that would render such a course necessary, nor is it desirable to store a large quantity of coal in South Wales, as it is of importance that coal shipped for the naval service should be fresh wrought.