HC Deb 24 March 1952 vol 498 c1W
Captain Ryder

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what measures are being taken to encourage British companies to develop the oil resources of the Commonwealth and Empire.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

British companies are both producing oil and exploring for oil in the Commonwealth, including the Colonies and British Protected States of the Persian Gulf. It will be appreciated that the development of oil resources in other countries is hardly something which the Government of this country can initiate, but my Department is doing all that it can to foster the development of oil in the Commonwealth.