§ Mr. OLIVERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent it has been the practice to charter for private business oil-tankers owned by the Admiralty; and will he state the number of such charters entered into during the current year and the tonnage of oil carried on such charters?
Lord STANLEYIt is the practice to let out Admiralty tankers on commercial charter when they are not required for Fleet work, and when the market rates obtainable are remunerative. The number of charters entered into in the calendar year 1935 has been 48, and the total tonnage lifted 204,000 tons, plus an unknown quantity carried by two vessels on time charter.