§ Mr. Blackasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much foreign exchange was required in 1952 to finance the import of petrol and oil into the United Kingdom; and what proportion of the total imports of petrol and oil in that year involved the expenditure of foreign exchange;
(2) how much foreign exchange is likely to be required in the current financial year for the purpose of the import of petrol and oil into the 81W United Kingdom; and what proportion of the total imports of petrol and oil involve the expenditure of foreign exchange.
§ Mr. MaudlingAll petroleum imports into the United Kingdom have a foreign currency element in their cost, including imports from the British companies' own resources overseas. The companies' expenditure of foreign currency is in respect of their world-wide operations in the production of crude oil, refining, purchasing, transport, and marketing, and it is not possible to allocate this expenditure among imports into individual countries.