§ Mr. Douglasasked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the petroleum got from deposits in Great Britain during the war was obtained under licences granted under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1918; and what royalty was paid to the owners of the land.
§ Mr. T. SmithOnly a very small proportion of the total quantity of crude oil produced in Great Britain during the war has been obtained from an area covered by a licence granted under the Petroleum Production Act, 1918. The area concerned is that covered by a licence granted to my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Colonies. I am not aware of the financial considerations entered into between my Noble Friend and the D'Arcy Exploration Company, Limited, in respect of the assignment of this licence. In view of the provisions of Section I of the Petroleum Production Act, 1934, this is entirely a matter between the two parties.
§ Mr. Douglasasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many licences granted under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1918, are still in force; who was the original licensee and who is the present holder of each licence.
§ Mr. SmithThe Schedule to the Petroleum Production Act, 1934, gives particulars of three licences issued under the Petroleum Production Act, 1918, which were still in force at the date of the passing of the 1934 Act. One of these (granted to my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Colonies) was assigned, with the approval of the Government, to the D'Arcy Exploration Company, Limited, and is still in force. An- 1275W other (granted to the N.M.D. Syndicate, Limited) was revoked in 1940. In the case of the third licence, granted to Mr. Henry King Hiller, consideration is at present being given to the question whether the conditions under which the licence was granted are still being complied with.