§ Mr. GIBSON BOWLESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state how many coaling hulks there are now in Portland Harbour; who are their owners; and whether it is a fact that none of them are fitted with modern appliances for rapid coaling; whether it is the Admiralty policy to discourage the coaling of merchant ships at Portland; and, if not, will he either exercise pressure on the owners of the existing hulks there to fit their hulks with modern 2073 appliances or else entertain applications from other owners to replace some of the existing hulks by others fitted with such appliances?
§ Mr. McKENNAI would suggest to my hon. Friend that he should postpone this question until after the decision of the Court of Appeal in the action now pending. It would be difficult to frame a reply to my hon. Friend's question without intrenching upon matter which is subjudice.