§ 14. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is to be understood, since the Admiralty have a special barge equipped with oil-separating plant at Portsmouth, that this barge is universally used and that no vessel in that area now discharges oil into the sea within a radius of 50 miles?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe oil separating barge at Portsmouth is used on every possible occasion. The answer to the second part of the question, so far as His Majesty's Ships and Naval Auxiliaries are concerned, is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACan the hon. and gallant Member say what is done with the oil when the barge is not used? Is it discharged into the sea?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI have already referred the hon. Member to an answer in which it is stated that it is not discharged into the Harbour. It is taken out into the open sea in the way I told him the other day.