§ 37. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Secretary for Mines how much oil is used annually by ships of the mercantile marine; what are the sources of supply; and how much tonnage is required for its import?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)As regards the first part of the question, the only information available is that the quantity of oil fuel shipped in this country for the use of ships, etc., of all nationalities engaged in foreign and 173 in coastwise trade amounted in 1936 to 343,124,000 gallons. The information asked for in the second and third parts of the question is not available.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherDoes not the hon. and gallant Gentleman regard it as of the first importance to satisfy himself that there is enough tonnage under the British flag to guarantee the necessary imports of oil?
§ Captain CrookshankThat may be so, but it does not arise out of this question.