HL Deb 15 March 1973 vol 340 cc427-9

3.20 p.m.

LORD BALOGH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking on the observations and recommendations of the Commons Public Accounts Committee's Report on North Sea oil.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, the Government are now studying the Report, and will in due course give Parliament their views on the recommendations in it. My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has already announced in his Budget speech that he accepted the recommendations in relation to the set-off of losses made by oil companies from their trade in oil in other parts of the world. Another main recommendation was that, before further licences are issued, all aspects of licensing policy should be reviewed in the light of the Report. As I informed your Lordships on February 28, 1973, a major review of policy is already under way, and it will take full account of the Report. Its outcome will be reported to Parliament as soon as it is completed.

LORD BALOGH

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord the Minister for that reply, which was more forthcoming than most of his replies on this topic. May I ask whether the review will be published before any further licensing takes place, so that it can be discussed both in this House and in another place?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, the result of the review will be announced, and I can give an undertaking that no more licences will be issued before the review is announced.

LORD BALOGH

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, also, may I, feeling emboldened, ask another question; to wit, whether the review will take into account the machinery-of-government aspect of this affair? Because it is obvious that merely to close the door after the horse has bolted—many horses in this case—is not enough, and that we ought really also to have a review of the Civil Service machinery aspect of the problem, which allowed this to happen.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, without accepting the imputation of the last three or four words, I can of course say that as the noble Lord well knows, the machinery of government to deal with particular problems is always being revised and reviewed so that it meets the circumstances of the time.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, does the noble Lord not think that it would be agreeable if he were to take this opportunity to pay a tribute to my noble friend for the assistance he has given to the Government in enabling them to move forward to meet the circumstances of the time?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I know that the noble Lord has been an advocate of what the Chancellor has now agreed to do, but, of course, I should not like to go so far as to say that he was the only advocate.

LORD SHEPHERD

Be generous!

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am not being ungenerous, and the noble Lord has not even allowed me to finish what I was going to say. My Lords, we do very much appreciate the special attention that the noble Lord gives to this problem, and we welcome all the help that he can give us.

LORD BALOGH

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord.