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Petroleum

Volume 104: debated on Monday 18 March 1918

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46.

asked the Prime Minister whether Sir Lionel Phillips, as Controller of the Mineral Resources Development Branch of the Ministry of Munitions, is in control of the arrangements for obtaining petroleum that may be under the soil of the United Kingdom; and, if not, in what authority these powers are vested?

The answer to the first part of the question is No, Sir. The Controller of Mineral Oil Production is responsible to the Ministry of Munitions for the arrangements for developing the supply of mineral oils from the deposits in the United Kingdom.

Can the right hon. Gentleman, the leader of the House, say when the House will be informed as to the course to be taken by the Government in respect of boring for petroleum?

It is rather difficult to make a statement without notice, but, as a matter of fact, I have been in communication with the gentleman who controls the business we intend to employ for this purpose, and I believe that a satisfactory arrangement has been made with him.

Is it proposed to introduce any legislation on the subject, and will any royalties be paid to the owners of the surface?

Obviously, the question does not arise in the way in which the matter is being dealt with at present. That was the reason that we took this course.

Can we understand from the right hon. Gentleman that the nation will not be bound to pay any royalties to any of the owners of the surface under which petroleum is thought to exist without Parliament having an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject?

My right hon. Friend knows that we had arranged in that way, and the question only arises because the particular firm had doubted whether they could go on with the work in that way. I understand the difficulty has been got over and the position is as it was previously.