§ 45. Mr. E. Smithasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the amount spent annually on oil imported for the Navy, Army, and the Air Force, respectively, and the amount spent anually on oil obtained in Great Britain for the same objects?
§ The Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip)Only a small proportion of the oil supplies of the Services is derived from sources in this country. In a number of classes, particularly where supplies are obtained from distributors' general stocks, the Depart- 396 ments have no sufficient information as to the sources to enable me to give figures. For information as to the total expenditure of the Services on oil supplies I would refer the hon. Member to the annual Estimates.
§ Mr. SmithHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the need for the production of oil from coal in Britain and, if so, what steps are being taken?
§ Sir T. InskipThe hon. Member asks me a totally different question. If he will put it down I will obtain the information for him.
§ Mr. PalingWere we not told in answer to a previous question of the tremendous reduction in the coal used by the Navy in the last few years, and is the fact that we have plenty of coal but have to import all the oil being studied?