§ Mr. Prittasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will state, on a comparable basis, the prices at some date about June or July, 1939, and at the nearest date to July, 1942, for which statistics are available, of all the main by-products of coal obtained in the manufacture of coke, including benzole, toluol, creosote, phenol and naphtha?
Major Lloyd GeorgeToluol, creosote and phenol are not obtained as such in the manufacture of coke. Toluol is a byproduct of crude benzole and creosote and phenol are produced in the distillation of crude tar. The price received for crude benzole depends upon the quality of the material and is at present based upon the C.I.F. price of motor spirit. Toluol is under the control of the Ministry of Supply. Creosote and phenol are under price and distribution control by the Ministry of Fuel and Power. No exact statistics exist regarding the prices received for creosote oil in 1939. The nearest comparable figures at present available are:
French Admiralty sent instructions to Admiral Godefroy that in the event of British forces evacuating Alexandria, the squadron was to attempt to reach a French port. If they found this impossible, they should remain in Alexandria under the French flag. In no circumstances were they to follow the British in their withdrawal or to allow the ships to fall into foreign hands.