87. Dr. Bennettasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what considerations have prevented or deterred British manufacturers of equipment for oil refineries and installations from tendering for recent large-scale projects in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the Commonwealth and Empire; and what administrative steps he is considering in order to afford encouragement to British firms to tender, bearing in mind the great sums in dollars and great opportunities for British industry that are lost to this country by leaving the field entirely to American firms.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI understand that the oil companies find it necessary to employ as main contractors firms which have had the greatest experience on these large-scale projects. The maximum amount of civil engineering work as opposed to the erection of technical plant is, of course, always carried out by British contractors. As regards the second part of the Question, my Department has, for some time, been giving every encouragement to the manufacture of petroleum equipment in this country, but the question of tendering is a matter between the oil companies and the manufacturers.