§ 34. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Sec-retary of State for Energy, in view of the shortage of oil, whether he will now reconsider the refusal of his predecessors to allow imports of Romanian oil until compensation has been received for the seizure by Romania of British assets, since agreements are made with other East European countries who have made such seizures.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Alex Eadie)No, Sir. There is no physical shortage of oil. There are no grounds for lifting the embargo, since an important part of the claims made for compensation remain unresolved.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that some 18 months ago I was told by the last Government that they were pressing for a settlement, that there had been two rounds of negotiation and that they expected that the Romanian Government would shortly be making a satisfactory offer? What has happened to that satisfactory offer?
§ Mr. EadieThe hon. Gentleman is aware that the present Government cannot accept responsibility for a previous Government. It is true that discussions were going on, but they still remain unresolved.