§ 67. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Prime Minister whether he will obtain and lay upon the Table of this House a copy of the Report drawn up by Mr. Van Der Gracht of the proceedings of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, dated last September; and whether, in view of the serious statement by the American Geological Survey-officials, to the effect that within a comparatively few years American oil supplies will be practically exhausted, the peak of American production having been reached last year and a decline having now sot in, His Majesty's Government, recognising the inevitable increase in the cost of petroleum products to British consumers, will consider taking immediate steps in the direction of extracting oil-fuel from Home resources to alleviate this serious situation?
Mr. ALEXANDERI have been asked to answer this question. I have seen extracts from the report referred to by the hon. Member, and will endeavour to obtain a copy for him. With regard to the latter part of the question, the considerations 1914 advanced by the hon. Member were not overlooked when a reply was given to his question on this subject on 4th March.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINMay I ask the Prime Minister whether it is not a very serious statement from a serious body, seeing that some 70 per cent. of the world's petroleum comes from the U.S.A.; and whether it is not a fact that there are resources in these islands which, if energetically taken in hand, could, in no undue time, give us our own supply—do much to reduce unemployment and keep millions of pounds in the country?