§ 14. Mr. Cuthbertasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the amount of increased oil consumption in Great Britain due to the conversion in industry and railway engines from coal to oil during the last two years; and whether, since this conversion, the supply of oil is still sufficient to satisfy this operation.
§ Mr. GaitskellSeparate figures are not available showing the consumption of oil by consumers who, prior to conversion, consumed coal, but the total increase in oil consumption by industry and the railways since May, 1946, is in the region of 1,100,000 tons. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 30th October to the hon. Member for Royton (Mr. Sutcliffe).
§ Mr. CuthbertWould the Minister tell us if this is the real reason for the basic petrol ration being cut, that it is a question of tankerage space and not of saving of dollars at all and that, owing to the increased oil consumption, the space used previously in tankers for petrol has had to be used for oil?
§ Mr. GaitskellNo, Sir; the reason for the abolition of the basic ration was the 2097 urgent necessity to save dollars, but I fully agree that there is also a serious tanker shortage now.
§ Mr. CuthbertMay I ask one more question? I agree that at the present moment it is partly a question of saving dollars, but if some 12 months ago dollars had been spent on tankers instead of the shipment of rotten bananas, would not the basic ration have been saved?
§ 31. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied that he will be able to achieve his target of eight million tons of oil for oil-coal conversion schemes in this country; what approximate proportion of the schemes approved show that two or more tons of coal will be saved for each ton of oil used; and whether, in the event of its proving impossible to obtain the expected eight million tons of oil, he will take steps to give priority to those schemes which show the most substantial saving of coal in relation to oil used, or schemes which are likely in the long run to prove of permanent value to the country's economy.
§ Mr. GaitskellConsumption of black oils before the conversion programme started, amounted to two million tons a year. The schemes already authorised will when in full operation involve an increased consumption of six million tons a year. While, as I explained in a reply given to the hon. Member for Royton (Mr. Sutcliffe) on 30th October, it has been necessary to postpone certain schemes, I hope that it will be possible to complete the whole programme in due course. As regards the second part of the Question, between one-third and a half of the oil to be used in approved conversion schemes are expected to save two tons of coal or more for each ton of oil used.
§ Mr. ErrollCan the Minister give an absolute guarantee that all the necessary oil will be forthcoming?
§ Mr. GaitskellI cannot give an absolute guarantee, because I am not in control of the whole world supply of oil and tankers, but I have already said we hope to be able to meet all these demands.