§ Group-Captain Aitkenasked the Minister of War Transport how many tankers are available under British control for bringing petrol to this country compared with 1939 and their carrying capacity.
§ Mr. BarnesIn 1939 there were 445 tankers of over 2,500 dead weight tons under the British flag totaling about 4,700,000 dead weight tons. The corresponding figures for September, 1945, are 400 tankers of 4,100,000 dead weight tons. The British tanker fleet and the available European tankers which can be chartered for sterling are not enough to supply all the civil and military needs of the United Kingdom, the British Commonwealth, and other areas for which we are responsible. American tankers are available, but their use involves the expenditure of dollars.