Sir W. JOYNSON HICKSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have had frequent opportunities of acquiring a controlling interest in the Royal Dutch Shell Company; and, if so, why they refused to enter into an arrangement which, as in the case of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, would ultimately prove of great advantage to the national interests?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware that this Government or its predecessors have had any opportunity of acquiring a controlling interest in the Royal Dutch Shell Group in any way comparable with the interest obtained in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.