§ 43. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary for Mines if he will state what was the total quantity of mineral oil produced in the United Kingdom from coal, shale, etc., during last year?
§ Mr. SHINWELLIn the case of coal information is not available of the amount of mineral oil produced by various processes. As regards oil produced from shale it is estimated that, expressed in terms of crude oil and naphtha, the production from this source amounted in 1929 to rather more than 40,000,000 gallons.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs any other source of oil supply being tapped now? My hon. Friend will be aware that there was at one time in this country a little oil produced from the soil.
§ Mr. SHINWELLAs far as I know, there are no natural oil wells in the country which are being exploited.