§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state generally the results so far of the trial of oil fuel on H.M.S. "Hannibal" in respect to freedom from smoke, speed, and cost as compared with best smokeless Welsh coal, and also as regards percolation through the storage tanks.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.The oil fuel trials in the "Hannibal" have so far only entered their initial stages, the immediate object being to ascertain the practicability of realising full power with this fuel in the boilers fitted for burning it, irrespective of smoke, speed, or cost. The results obtained, though not unattended by difficulties, are considered promising; but no definite conclusions on the points specified will be possible until more prolonged trials have been made, and experience had of its working at sea.