§ Major BURGOYNEasked the Prime Minister when the Munitions Mineral Oil Production Department was founded, and what production it has shown since that date; whether this body still exists; and why it was abolished?
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§ Sir W. EVANSThe Munitions Mineral Oil Production Department was founded in July last and is still in existence. It is not in the public interest to state the amount of oil which has been produced since that date.
§ Major BURGOYNEasked the Prime Minister whether the Petroleum Research Department has presented any Report or made recommendations; whether such recommendations, if made, have been acted upon, and, if not, why this has not been done; whether differences of opinion have arisen between the director of the Munitions Mineral Oil Production Department and the director of the Petroleum Research Department which have resulted in the abolition of both Departments; whether the former director of the Mineral Oil Production Department has been appointed director of the new Petroleum Executive and, as a result, the senior officials of the Research Department have refused to serve under him, and why; and whether, in consequence of the above state of affairs, the annual production of oil in the country to the extent of 122,000,000 gallons of Navy fuel oil, 14,000,000 gallons of petrol, and large quantities of paraffin wax is entirely suspended?
§ Sir W. EVANSThe Petroleum Research Department has presented Reports and made numerous recommendations, many of which have been acted upon by the Government Departments concerned. The Munitions Mineral Oil Production Department and the Petroleum Research Department are now both attached to the Ministry of Munitions: harmonious relations have always existed between their respective directors and each Department has been able to render valuable help to the other. The former Controller of the Munitions Oil Production Department has been appointed director of the new Petroleum Executive; the officials of the Petroleum Research Department do not and have never been asked to serve under him. As regards the last part of the question, the production of oil, petrol and wax has not stopped; on the contrary, it is steadily increasing.