HC Deb 23 March 1979 vol 964 c130W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many petroleum companies to his knowledge have paid over $18 a barrel for crude oil on the spot market since the Iranian crisis; and what was the total tonnage involved.

Mr. Benn

No authoritative comprehensive information is available about individual company transactions in the world crude oil spot market. It is for this reason that the Government's oil policy is now so necessary and that BNOC is so essential.