asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the negotiations over Persian oil.

Good progress is being made with the discussions in London and I expect that a delegation from the Consortium of die oil companies will leave for Teheran very shortly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these concessions cover the refinery, and, if not, what the position is with regard to it?

There have been no negotiations as yet with the Persian Government. There have been arrangements between the companies concerned, and preliminary arrangements must be made, but all the negotiations themselves take place in Teheran.