17. Lieut.-Colonel TODDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Iraq Petroleum Company and the Palestine Potash Company held no official exploration permits under the Palestine mining laws to explore or survey in the region at the south end of the Dead Sea up to 6th October, 1934, when His Majesty's Government notified Dr. Homer and the British group that no further permits would be granted until after the Palestine mining laws had been amended, and that such permits as were granted to the Iraq Petroleum Company in 1933 applied to different areas; and are these companies still to be allowed to work while the British group is prevented from working?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to exploration permits for oil. So far as I am aware, the Palestine Potash Company hold no such permits either in Palestine or in Transjordan; but a small area of land immediately south of the Dead Sea has been made available to that company, not for oil exploration, but in connection with their potash works. One of the permits granted to the Iraq Petroleum Company is in respect of an area in Transjordan to the south of the Dead Sea, of approximately 500 square kilometres. This permit was granted by the Government of Transjordan in 1933. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies which I gave to him on the 19th March.
Lieut.-Colonel TODDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these two companies have been in this district with boring machinery since the Government stated that no work was to be done, and that meanwhile British development is being held up?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have answered that question three or four times. What I have said is that no new permits have been or would be granted pending a reconsideration and redrafting of the law, but that old permits would continue in force.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member has already been answered three or four times.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhat is it that we are getting in return from these companies or from Iraq?