§ 41. Mr. Maudeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how long he estimates it will take to provide additional pipelines to bring Middle Eastern oil to a Mediterranean port without using the Suez Canal.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesPlans are under consideration for the expansion of existing Middle East pipeline capacity by about 40 million tons a year. Further measures for reducing the dependence of Western Europe on the Suez Canal by providing alternative means for the transport of oil are being studied. It is not at present possible to forecast the time required to complete these schemes.
§ Mr. MaudeCan my right hon. Friend say whether he expects that there will be any great difficulty in providing the necessary steel for these schemes, and if so, whether any plans are under way to obtain it from any other sources?
§ Mr. JonesSteel supplies are a difficulty. As for any decisions directed to the expansion of steel supplies, that is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.