§ 73. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a further statement on the disruption in our oil supplies as a result of the Middle East crisis; and what further conversations he has had with the oil industry on the problem.
§ 78. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the continuing disruption of our oil supplies from the Middle East, if he will make a further statement on the present position; and what further steps he is taking to make sure that industry and public services are maintained.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesIn 1955 about two-thirds of our oil imports came direct through the Suez Canal or the Iraq54W Petroleum Company pipelines. Taking account of imports from countries which themselves draw supplies from the Middle East, about three-quarters of our oil imports depend directly or indirectly on the Suez Canal and Middle East pipelines. As the House is aware, the Saudi Arabian Government have cut off supplies of crude oil to the Bahrein refinery and prohibited the loading of British and French' Flag' tankers at Saudi ports.
I am in constant touch with representatives of the oil industry which is taking every possible step to make good deficiencies in supplies.
§ 77. Mr. Woodburnasked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent plans for rationing petrol will provide for priorities on the same lines as during war-time rationing.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 14th November.
§ 79. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much fuel oil is used in the pottery industry per year; and what arrangements he is making to maintain these essential supplies.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesAbout 35,000 tons of gas oil and fuel oil were used for burning by the pottery trades in 1955. No exception has been made for the pottery industry under the present 10 per cent. restrictions.
§ 80. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the disruption of our oil supplies from the Middle East, if he will consult the oil companies concerned, with a view to controlling prices, to prevent a rise in the cost of living.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI have already been in consultation with the oil companies and they have agreed to consult me before raising prices in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage of the country's normal supplies of oil have been cut by the closing of the Suez Canal and damage to the Iraq Petroleum Company's oil pipe lines being cut in Syria; 55W and what other loss of oil has occurred either directly or indirectly since the Government's armed conflict in Egypt.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Answer today to the hon. Members for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies) and Feltham (Mr. Hunter).
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he has informed petroleum companies of the Government's intention to ration petrol in January, 1957, whilst refusing to give this information to the House of Commons; whether he will give details of the instructions sent by him to the petrol companies concerning petrol rationing; and on what date in January, 1957, he anticipates the commencement of petrol rationing.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI have not informed oil companies of any Government decision to ration petrol in January, 1957, or on any other date, and I have issued no instructions to them on this question. I will inform the House at the earliest possible opportunity if petrol has to be rationed.