HC Deb 22 May 1928 vol 217 cc1711-2W
Mr. G. HALL

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many gallons of oil were shipped as bunkers at British ports last year, and what was the coal equivalent, in tons, of the oil so shipped?

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

The total quantity of oil fuel shipped in 1927 for the use of steamers and motor vessels engaged in the foreign trade (including fishing vessels) amounted to about 253,000,000 gallons, or approximately 1,000,000 tons. It is estimated that, if burned under boilers, two tons of oil fuel would be equivalent to about three tons of coal, but I can give no such general formula for oil used in internal-combustion engines; the coal equivalent would vary with different fuels and different types of engine.