3. Mr. Leeasked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet able to make a statement as to the effects upon employment levels of the interruption of our oil supplies, and the restrictions now imposed.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe restrictions announced on 7th November are not expected to have any appreciable effect on employment.
Mr. LeeIs the Minister aware that now that we have a clearer picture of the extent of the blocking of the Canal and the blowing up of these pipelines, it appears that the present restrictions will scarcely be sufficient to meet the oil shortages which we can expect? Is he aware that in the case of the steel industry and others which are great users of oil, once their levels of oil stocks begin to drop there will be a cumulative effect upon all the manufacturing industries which use steel? Would the Government as soon as possible give some picture of 724 how they propose to keep these essential industries at work, because once they begin to drop other industries will suffer accordingly?
§ Mr. MacleodMany of those are matters for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, and I should be glad to discuss with him what the hon. Member has just said.