HC Deb 21 December 1937 vol 330 cc1755-6
17. Mr. Day

asked the Secretary for Mines particulars of the countries where Government monopolies have been set up to control the prices of petrol or which themselves engage in the refining or marketing of mineral oil products?

The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)

According to the information available, the only countries in which there are Government monopolies for the sale of petroleum products, are Spain and Manchukuo. In Russia, the petroleum industry is completely under Government control. In the Argentine, Egypt and Mexico, the Governments engage to a limited extent in the production, refining or marketing of petroleum.

Mr. Day

Can the Secretary for Mines say which, if any, of these other countries subsidise their own refining plant?