asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the oil fuel tanks installed at the Singapore base are above ground, and therefore subject to destruction by aeroplane attack?

The answer is in the affirmative, but with regard to the assumption at the end of the question, I would point out that the active and passive defence against air attack of oil fuel installations above ground is being closely investigated.

Would not damage to or destruction of these oil tanks absolutely paralyse our ships at Singapore?

I can assure my right hon. Friend that we are looking very urgently into the question of the underground storage of oil.