§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the effective functioning of the war effort by the illegal regime in Rhodesia is contingent upon the continued flow of oil through South Africa in breach of United Nations sanctions.
§ Mr. RowlandsRhodesia has no known indigenous production of oil. There is no doubt that if Rhodesia were denied supplies of petroleum products from outside, her economy and her capacity to continue the war would be gravely impaired.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what instructions have been given to Mr. Thomas Bingham, QC about the date of the completion of his inquiries into the breach of oil sanctions against Rhodesia;
(2) why the conduct of the inquiry into the breaking of oil sanctions against Rhodesia by Shell and BP has taken so long; whether he can now indicate when he expects to receive the report; and what further action he has taken to expedite the matter.
§ Mr. RowlandsMy right hon. Friend has indicated to Mr. Bingham that his inquiry should be pursued with the utmost speed consistent with a thorough and considered investigation of all the evidence. He is satisfied that this is being done: the material involved is both extensive and complex. The inquiry has entered its concluding stages, but we cannot yet predict when Mr. Bingham will be ready to submit his report.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to require the directors of British Petroleum to present to him within 14 days a report on the activities of the company in supplying oil to Rhodesia.
§ Mr. RowlandsNo. The independent inquiry into the supply of petroleum and petroleum products to Rhodesia, which my right hon. Friend has appointed Mr. Thomas Bingham, QC, to undertake, is currently investigating this issue. The 679W British Petroleum Company is co-operating fully with the inquiry.