§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the total amount estimated to be spent by the Admiralty during the current financial year in the purchase of coal; and what would have been the total increase of this charge on the Naval Estimates if the contract price of all coal purchased had been raised by 1s. 6d. per ton.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.The reply to the first part of the Question is approximately £1,784,800. In regard to the second part of the Question, it is not considered to be in the public interests to furnish information bearing upon the consumption of coal for the Fleet.
§ MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)But why is it not in the public interest, seeing that the Admiralty always pay 1s. or 1s. 6d. per ton more than anyone else?
§ MR. McKENNAIt is not in the public interest to make a statement as to the amount of coal actually consumed by the Navy. I have given the cost.