§ 20. Mr. Edelmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, France, Holland, and the Middle East countries concerned, that a Middle East oil authority be established on the model of the European Coal and Steel Authority, in order to guarantee legitimate access to the oil of the Middle East and its fair distribution.
§ Mr. NuttingNo, Sir.
§ Mr. EdelmanIf this proposal is further elaborated to the right hon. Gentleman, will he give it further study? Is he not aware that the European Coal and Steel Community is working successfully by consent, and is uniting former hereditary enemies for functional purposes? In those circumstances, and in view of the mounting tension in the Middle East, will the right hon. Gentleman not consider using oil as a means of uniting people instead of dividing them in that area?
§ Mr. NuttingI will, of course, study anything elaborated by the hon. Member, but he is making a great mistake in suggesting that any structure, supranational or otherwise, merely because it is successful in Europe, will necessarily be successful in the Middle East.
§ Mr. NicholsonIs it not curious that the suggested membership for such a body as this does not include the countries actually producing the oil?
§ Mr. BeswickIf the right hon. Gentleman is going to study these proposals will he turn again to the proposals put forward by the International Co-operative Alliance which yesterday he dismissed as impracticable but which are, in fact, positive and constructive and much more likely to contribute to security than the pacts and positions of power which the Government are trying to pursue at the moment?
§ Mr. NuttingI have no reason to suppose that the suggestions of the International Co-operative Alliance would be any more successful in organising the oil resources and the production of oil in the Middle East than the suggestion made by the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman).
§ Mr. UsborneI am wondering, Mr. Speaker, whether the lighting in the Chamber is as bad as it was a year or two ago, because it does not seem that you can see me—
§ Mr. SpeakerI cannot hear the hon. Member.
§ Mr. UsborneI have a feeling, Mr. Speaker, and I would ask for your guidance in the matter, that there must be something wrong with the construction of the Chamber because it seems difficult for you to see or to hear me where I am in this part of the Chamber.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have observed the hon. Member rise on the great majority of the Questions which have been asked, but I cannot always call him to ask a supplementary question.