HL Deb 08 February 1979 vol 398 cc828-30

3.22 p.m.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

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 how the interests and possible contributions of private sector oil companies active on the United Kingdom continental shelf will be represented at the projected meeting in London in March between a delegation of OPEC countries and delegations representing Britain, Norway, Mexico and Canada.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, the proposed meeting will be between the Energy or Oil Ministers of eight oil producing countries. It will be informal and it is expected that there will be wide-ranging discussions of matters of mutual interest and concern. Private sector oil companies will not be represented.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for that reply, which was a little bit less informative than one might have hoped. May I ask him whether he can confirm a report of a statement made by Dr. Dickson Mabon on 17th January that among the items to be discussed was closer co-operation between State oil companies in regard to exploration, production and marketing?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, there is not expected to be any formal agenda. I should not like to speculate on what will be discussed.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether Dr. Dickson Mabon was correctly reported in that regard?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, what I said was that at the meeting, which is in the future, there will be no formal agenda, and I should not like to speculate on what will be discussed.

Lord WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, can my noble friend say why this meeting has been called, and why it has been called at the present time? Can he also say why the particular countries referred to in the Question have been asked to attend?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, it was suggested to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Energy by Dr. Hernandez, the Venezuelan Minister of Energy and Mines, that such a meeting would be useful. My right honourable friend very much welcomed the suggestion, and, although he has left the lead in Dr. Hernandez' hands as to the form and attendance, he offered—as a gesture of goodwill—to host the conference at a location near London as a convenient centre for all concerned.

Lord AVEBURY

My Lords, may I ask why the Secretary of State welcomed the suggestion of Dr. Hernandez if he did not know what was going to be discussed? Will the noble Lord please reply to the question that has been asked twice so far by the noble Earl, Lord Lauderdale—that is to say, not what is on the agenda but whether Dr. Dickson Mabon was correctly reported?

Lord STRABOLGI

That is quite a different question; I am not prepared to answer it.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, since the noble Lord is feeling a little bit harassed, I do not want to press him, but I wonder whether he could tell us this: he has said that the delegations will consist of Ministers. Since he mentioned yesterday, in reply to questions, that of course the private sector has a great part to play in the oil industry, could he assure us that the Ministers will represent the interests of the private sector as well as of the nationalised sector?

Lord STRABOLGI

Yes, my Lords. This is a private meeting between Ministers and it would not be proper to include the companies. In any case, as I am sure the noble Earl would agree, oil companies throughout the world are in close touch with their Governments and with the Governments of the countries in which they operate. The Ministers present will therefore be quite familiar with their views—as indeed we are familiar with their views here.