§ 21. Mr. Fitchasked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he authorised a cement firm, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Wigan, to import Russian fuel oil; and if he will make a statement on the conditions attached thereto.
§ Mr. MaudlingLicences have been issued since February, 1958. These have been subject to the normal conditions attaching to all import licences.
§ Mr. FitchCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether this fuel oil is being imported at about one-third of the cost of British refined fuel oil and, if so, does he think that competition with such agreements is likely to help the coal industry to get rid of its surplus coal?
§ Mr. MaudlingI do not think, even were I aware of it, that I could disclose the price paid by an individual consumer. In 1958 and early in 1959 some imports of fuel oil were licensed, and a special exemption was made in this case because the company entered into large capital commitments based on the use of Soviet oil with the knowledge of the Government at the time, and so we thought it right to make an exception, but only to this particular case.