§ 12. Mr. KELLYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of ships in the Navy driven by coal power and the type of such ships?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI would refer the hon. Member to my reply of yesterday to the hon. Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon), (OFFICIAL REPORT, Columns 1583–4).
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman state how many ships are using pulverised fuel?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMNo ships of the Royal Navy are using pulverised fuel at present.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHave the Admiralty considered the advisability of using this fuel in view of its prospective utility to the coal mining industry of this country?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMIf the hon. Member had been present at the Debate which recently took place, he would have understood that we were doing everything in our power to further the development of pulverised fuel.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not a fact that the Admiralty themselves are experimenting on ships with pulverised coal, and can the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us when they will be able to give us a report as to its utility, or otherwise?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe Admiralty are not making any experiments themselves, as I have already explained.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre we to understand from the hon. and gallant Member's statements, both in Debate and at Question Time, that the Admiralty are doing everything but use pulverised fuel?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe hon. Member may thoroughly understand that it is true that we are following these developments with great interest.
§ Mr. PALINGIf we had followed the Debate in question should we not have learned that the Admiralty were doing nothing?