§ Sir R. BLADESasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the annual consumption of fuel on the railways in Iraq: whether the fuel used on those railways is liquid fuel; if so, by which companies and at what price such fuel is supplied and whether any competitive tenders for such supplies are invited?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI regret that the material available does not enable me to state the exact amount of the annual consumption of fuel on the railways in Iraq. I am, however, asking the Acting High Commissioner for further particulars and will communicate again with the hon. Baronet when I receive his reply. The fuel used is oil. Supplies were originally drawn from the Army, who, I am informed, purchased the oil from the Anglo-Persian Oil Company on short-term contracts. The price at present paid, under a contract placed by the High Commissioner in September last, is rupees 45 per ton. As a result of recent negotiations the figure is now to be reduced to rupees 40 per ton; but it is not anticipated that there will be any further reduction in price in the immediate future.