§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Iraq Government have paid the Iraq Petroleum Company Limited and subsidiaries compensation for curtailing the size of concessions granted to the companies in the 1930's under laws passed in 1961 and 1967; and what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to ensure compliance with the principles of international law now that the North Rumeila 316W Oilfield, within that concession, is about to start production.
§ Mr. KershawNo compensation has yet been paid to the Iraq Petroleum Company by the Iraq Government. The Company is currently discussing the whole range of problems outstanding with the Iraq Government. It is my hope that an equitable solution will be reached. It would be unprofitable at this stage to go into the details of the position of Her Majesty's Government in this matter.