HC Deb 20 November 1947 vol 444 cc1326-8
63. Dr. Segal

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made towards laying an oil pipeline from Abadan to the southern shore of the Persian Gulf to link up with the Trans-Iraq oil pipelines, and thus save four weeks on the round voyage of each tanker proceeding around the coast of Arabia through to the Mediterranean.

Mr. Gaitskell

The throughput capacities of existing oil pipelines from Iraq to the Mediterranean are already fully taken up and there is no proposal to connect them with the Abadan Refinery.

Dr. Segal

Does not the Minister agree that there is a strong case to be made out for laying down these pipelines?

Mr. Gaitskell

A pipeline to run from Abadan to the Mediterranean has been approved, but it is not linking up with other pipelines.

Dr. Segal

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this is long overdue, and will he arrange to give it a high priority?

Mr. Gaitskell

It does not depend only on me; it is a joint affair between ourselves and the Americans.

65. Dr. Segal

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give an estimate of the potential yield of new wells already bored in the neighbourhood of Masjid-i-Suleiman in Southern Persia; and if he is satisfied that these wells are being fully developed.

Mr. Gaitskell

I am not aware that any new wells have been bored in the immediate neighbourhood of Masjid-i-Suleiman. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

Dr. Segal

Will the Minister make some further investigations into this matter, as part of his efforts to restore the basic petrol ration?

Mr. Gaitskell

The restoration of the basic petrol ration would not, I think, be greatly affected by the boring of any new wells in that part of the world at the moment.

66. Dr. Segal

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on how many days oil has had to be pumped back into the wells of the Anglo-Iranian oilfields in southern Persia owing to lack of tanker tonnage and storage capacity; and what was the total quantity involved.

Mr. Gaitskell

I am informed that in the nine months ending 30th September, 1947, the quantity of oil products which has been pumped back into the wells of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in Persia amounts to approximately 1,000,000 tons. This is largely due to lack of tanker tonnage and storage capacity. I have no information as to the number of days on which this operation took place in the period mentioned.

Dr. Segal

Is it not really scandalous that any oil at all should be pumped back into the wells? Is, it not as grotesque as having to put coal down a mine shaft?

Mr. Gaitskell

It is not quite so grotesque as my hon. Friend supposes. It is, in fact, although not always on such a large scale at the moment, quite a regular operation, which has been adopted in the past, whenever a particular oil product was in surplus supply.

Mr. Keeling

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how he justifies giving detailed information about the administration of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, which the Government do not control, although they own the majority of shares, while at the same time refusing to answer similar questions about coal mines in which they hold 100 per cent. of the capital?

Mr. Gaitskell

It is because I consider this of sufficient public importance to warrant my doing so.