§ Mr. Pentlandasked the Paymaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the piling up of oil stocks in the country; and, in view of the extensive coal stocks that are laid by in the coalfields, what the Government's intentions are in regard to future importation of oil supplies into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Reginald MaudlingOil stocks are being increased in keeping with the Government's policy which, as I outlined in the House on 4th May last [HANSARD: col. 47], aims at making provision against temporary interruptions of supply.
The future importation of oil will depend upon the course of demand.