§ Mr. McEnteeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the negotiations about the oil exploration licence issued to the D'Arcy Exploration Company, Limited, and the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company, Limited, in Kenya have yet resulted in the determination of that licence by mutual consent; if so, what are the reasons for this step; whether any applications have been made by other oil concessions; and, if so, whether licences have been granted?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreIn August last the companies in question gave three months' notice of their desire to surrender their licence on the ground that the results of their survey had proved unfavourable. As other applications for oil exploration licences were pending, the three months' notice was waived by mutual consent, and the companies' licence was determined with effect from the 30th September. I understand that the other applicants for oil exploration licences have been informed that the Government of Kenya is now prepared to consider their applications, if they so desire, but the Governor has not reported the issue of any further licences,