§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLOR (Liverpool, E. Toxteth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the price charged for coal supplied to the Lagos Railway in 1903 by the Crown Agents; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the price and quality of this coal have been adversely criticised in the Lagos Government Railway Report, he will consider the advisability of instructing the Crown Agents to adopt a system of open tender by advertisement for the supply and transport of all coal required by Crown Colonies and Protectorates.
§ *MR. LYTTELTONNo coal was supplied for the Lagos Railway by the Crown Agents in 1903, but all the coal used was purchased locally.