§ 110. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the number of oil tankers ordered in 1954 was less than it has been for several years; that a large quantity of British oil is being carried by foreign-owned vessels; and what steps are being taken to provide sufficient British tankers to carry this oil.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes. I understand that the demand for new oil tankers has now lessened, and this accounts for the latest fall in orders. Arrangements 101W for the carriage of British oil are entirely a matter for the oil companies. There is, in fact, enough British tonnage to carry all United Kingdom oil imports, but much of it is employed on other trades. The most economic use of these fleets, which earn valuable foreign exchange, can safely be left to the companies themselves, and it is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to intervene.
STATEMENT OF BULK PURCHASE OR LONG-TERM AGREEMENTS AFFECTING THE PROCUREMENT OF FOODSTUFFS, I.E., AGREEMENTS PROVIDING FOR GOVERNMENT PURCHASE AND COVERING INITIALLY A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS OR MORE Commodity Country Terminal Date Bacon Denmark (including some pork for a limited period) 29. 9.56 Holland (including some pork for a limited period) 29. 9.56 Irish Republic (including pork) 30. 4.56 Meat New Zealand See Note 1 Australia Argentina See Note 2 Uruguay Milk Products New Zealand (Milk Powder) 31. 7.55 Australia (Butter and Cheese) 30. 6.55 Denmark (Butter) 30. 9.55 Oils and Fats: Copra New Zealand (on behalf of W. Samoa) 31.12.57 Cook Islands 31.12.57 Tokelau Islands 31.12.57 Niue 31.12.57 Copra and Coconut Oil Fiji 31.12.57 Australia (on behalf of Papua and New Guinea) 31.12.57 Tonga 31.12.57 Solomon Islands 31.12.57 Gilbert and Ellice Islands 31.12.57 Concentrated Orange Juice British West Indies End of crop year 1959/60 Sugar (Commonwealth Sugar Agreement). Australia, South Africa and the Sugar-producing Colonies 31.12.62 NOTE 1.—The United Kingdom Government has undertaken to permit, without restriction of quantity, the sale in the United Kingdom market of Australian and New Zealand beef, veal, lamb, mutton and edible offal for a period of 15 years from 15th October, 1952. In addition provision is made in the Agreement with Australia for the periodic fixing of a schedule of minimum prices.
NOTE 2.—Although the bulk purchase Agreements with Argentine and Uruguay have expired deliveries will continue for the time being as contract tonnages are still outstanding.