HC Deb 26 May 1950 vol 475 cc308-10W
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much of the estimate for 1950 of gross cost in dollars to the sterling area of the production and refining operations of British oil companies relates to new capital equipment; and how much to normal recurrent annual expenditure.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

I regret that this information is not available.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage of the estimate for 1950 of the gross cost in dollars to the sterling area of the operations of British oil companies relates to oil production and refining; and what percentage relates to marketing operations and transport.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

I am unable to give a figure for the dollar cost of the transport and marketing operations of the British oil companies, since it is impossible in all cases to say whether a particular item of dollar expenditure is incurred in distributing rather than in producing and refining oil.