§ 59. Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the oil purchased by the Shell Transport and Trading Company, Limited, from, the Soviet Government at the request of His Majesty's Government was sold by the company to His Majesty's Government; and, if so, what amount was paid for this oil by His Majesty's Government to the Shell Transport and Trading Company, or, alternatively, whether His Majesty's Government paid the company a buying commission?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)I understand that at the time of the Trade Agreement with the Soviet Government in 1921 a verbal request to the effect mentioned in the question was made to the Shell Company. Any purchases made in pursuance of this request were not made on behalf of the Government, and none of the oil was sold by the company to His Majesty's Government. The remaining parts of the question, therefore, do not arise.