§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what power the Government have to seize oil tankers owned by(a) private contractors and (b) oil Companies [135944]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Energy Act 1976 contains powers which would enable Government to direct both private contractors and oil companies to act in specified ways. The Act contains no specific powers to requisition vehicles.
It would be possible, however, to take powers to requisition vehicles in emergency regulations made under section 2 of the Emergency Powers Act 1920.