49. Mr. PERCYasked the Minister of Transport to what extent has oil been, and is being, substituted for coal in locomotives on the railways of the United Kingdom; and how far has the change been favourable, or otherwise, in view of efficiency and cost as compared with coal?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI will answer this for my right hon. Friend (Sir E. Geddes), who has had to go away to a Committee. With regard to the first part of the question, particulars furnished show that 116 locomotives have been fitted with oil-burning apparatus, and that a further seven are in course of adaptation. Sufficient experience has not yet been obtained to enable me to answer the second part of the question.