§ 15. Mr. MATHERSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what quantity of oil produced from shale is used annually by the Royal Navy; and whether he will do everything possible to encourage the use of shale oil in order to ensure the development of the mines and thus assist employment in this vital industry?
Mr. LINDSAYThe quantity of oil produced from Scottish shale purchased annually for the Royal Navy amounts to about 50,000 gallons of light products, the exact quantity bring unascertainable because one of the products purchased, namely, petroleum spirit, is refined both from shale oil and imported petroleum in unknown proportions. The existence of a duty of 8d. a gallon on imported petroleum spirit is a direct encouragement to the development of these mines. The Admiralty are giving every possible encouragement.