§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what assumption for (a) the world oil price in dollars and (b) the exchange rate between the pound sterling and the dollar, his Department has estimated spending on liquid fuels for the financial year 1987–88.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c.179]: In accordance with the usual conventions, spending on liquid fuels for the financial year 1987–88, as with other commodities, was estimated on the basis of forecast 1986–87 prices, and on the exchange rates prevailing at the end of June 1986 (the dollar rate then being £1 = $1.50). These estimates varied according to fuel types and the purchasing arrangements concerned and were not based directly on the world oil price in dollars.
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§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of consumption of liquid fuel in petajoules, by his Department in (a) 1984–85, (b) 1985–86, (c) 1 April to 31 December 1985 and (d) 1 April to 31 December 1986.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c. 179]: The information is as follows:
Petajoules (a) 1984–85 117.42 (b) 1985–86 109.52 (c) 1 April to 31 December 1985 77.76 (d) 1 April to 31 December 1986 84.58
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated level of consumption of liquid fuels in petajoules by his Department in (a) 1986–87, (b) 1987–88.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c. 179]: The estimated level of liquid fuel consumption expressed in petajoules for 1986–87 was 115. It is too early to give an equivalent figure for 1987–88, but the amount of fuel available will enable activity levels to be broadly comparable with those of recent normal years.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence what savings in the annual consumption of liquid fuels in petajoules his Department has achieved as a result of the opening of the Mount Pleasant airport and other investments in the Falklands.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c. 179]: The annual consumption of liquid fuels in the Falklands in 1986–87 was reduced by approximately 0.5 petajoules primarily due to the opening of the Mount Pleasant airport complex.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of outturn expenditure on liquid fuels, net of appropriation in aid, for the financial year 1986–87.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c. 179]: The latest forecast of outturn for 1986–87 on liquid fuels net of appropriations in aid is £351 million.