§ 57. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the amount of oil fuel which is at present hanging about the surface of the water in Plymouth harbour and that as a result the boats of Devonport watermen, freshly redecorated in readiness for the summer service, have been spoilt; whether he will take steps to remedy this nuisance; and whether, seeing that the watermen have spent considerable sums of money in the redecoration of their boats, he will consider the question of compensating them for the damage sustained?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Ammon)Yes, Sir. I am aware that a quantity of oil fuel was noticed in the harbour last month, but its origin has not yet been traced by the dockyard officers; very strict rules against the discharge overboard of oil fuel are observed in the Admiralty service, and we can only assume that this oil comes from some commercial source. The reply to the second part of the question is therefore in the negative.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIf it is demonstrated that this oil is Admiralty 803 oil, will the Admiralty compensate the fishermen as on previous occasions?
§ Sir COOPER RAWSONIs it not a fact that most of the ships of the Royal Navy are fitted with oil separators?