§ 32. Sir ROBERT YOUNGasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of British mercantile tonnage burns oil fuel; and what proportion of such ships has been converted during the past four years from coal to oil users?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAs the answer is long and contains a number of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ According to the particulars given in the 1935–36 edition of Lloyd's Register Book there are 9,169 steamers and motor ships of 100 tons gross and upwards on the British Register representing 20,284,057 gross tons. Of this total, 882 were motor ships of 3,144,362 tons gross and 1,066 were steamers fitted for burning oil fuel of 5,993,467 tons gross. Included in the last mentioned figure are a number of vessels which use coal or oil alternatively. I am unable to say what proportion of the vessels now on the British Register have been converted from coal to oil burning during the last four years, but the hon. Member may like to compare the present position with that obtaining four years earlier when the vessels on the British Register included 694 motor ships of 2,718,467 gross tons and 1,104 steamers fitted for burning oil fuel of 6,200,060 tons gross out of a total of 9,940 steamers and motor ships of 100 tons gross, and over, of a total tonnage of 23,127,316 tons gross.