§ 62. Mr. E. CECILasked whether His Majesty's Government are at present under contract with a company, of which 99 per cent. of the shares are held by a German company, for the supply of petroleum products to the Army; and whether His Majesty's Government will discontinue employing this or any similar company during the War?
Mr. BAKERThe company presumably referred to, the British Petroleum Company, Limited, holds the contract for aircraft spirit for the United Kingdom and also holds contracts for mineral burning oil at certain local stations. Practically the whole of the share capital of the British Petroleum Company, Limited, is held by the Europaische Petroleum Union, a very large proportion of whose shares are, I understand, held by Belgian and Russian Companies. The British Petroleum Company has large distributing facilities in this country; all its officials and employés are stated to be British; and it is making no payment to the parent company. In the circumstances it is not proposed to take the action suggested by the hon. Member.