§ Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the advantage of the possession of a supply of oil, the price of which can be controlled, he will consider the development of the oilfields of Palestine and Trans-Jordan under oil-mining legislation enacted in Palestine in 1938 and with the authority of the Emergency Defence Act of August, 1938?
Mr. M. MacDonaldPending the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in Palestine and Trans-Jordan, the question of applying emergency powers in connection with its exploitation does not arise.