HC Deb 31 January 1934 vol 285 cc372-3W
Mr. HALL-CAINE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air to what extent it is intended during the current year to increase the percentage of Russian basis to lubricating oil used in Royal Air Force machines; and what attempts have been made to enable such lubricating oil to be based entirely on oil from fields within the Empire or under British control?

Sir P. SASSOON

There has been no change this year in the Air Ministry specification for lubricating oil. Of the considerable number of firms tendering, however, none offered an oil derived from Empire sources and the choice therefore lay between oils with foreign components. The oil ordered, which was in fact from Russian components though it is blended in England, was by far the cheapest offered. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to-day to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Sir P. Dawson).