§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the steamship "Relillio," 3,700 tons, wag recently directed by the Ministry of Shipping to go from Cardiff in ballast to load iron ore at Bilbao and bring it to this country and was chartered for that purpose; that this boat was afterwards requisitioned by the Ministry of Transport to go to London and the licence for the Bilbao-Tyne voyage thereby cancelled; and whether he will direct these two Departments to work in harmony, and particularly point out to the Ministry of Transport the necessity of not interfering with steamers engaged to bring iron ore to this country?
Colonel WILSONI have been asked to reply. The instruction to the steamship "Relillio" to load ore, and the subsequent instruction to carry coal to London, were both given by the Ministry of Shipping. The Ministry of Transport were not concerned in the matter in any way. It was urgently necessary to provide for the carriage of the coal to London 1817W in order to provide bunker coal for several large liners which were waiting at that port. The vessel will proceed to load ore as soon as she has completed discharge of her coal cargo.