asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, as a result of the special inquiries he has made, he will state how much Russian petrol was bought for the Glasgow Corporation in 1933 and how much petrol from other firms what were the conditions of purchase in both cases; and in which case was the price offered the cheapest?

I am informed that in 1933 the corporation placed contracts for petrol as follow:

National Combine Companies—1,409,206 gallons at 12.61d. per gallon.

Russian Oil Products, Limited—954,200 gallons at 12.04d. per gallon.

Corporation's Chemical Works—98,994 gallons at 7.51d. per gallon.

The contracts were subject to the ordinary conditions included in all contracts in accordance with the standing orders of the corporation.

Is the Lord Advocate aware that in 1933 when the Moderates were in power in Glasgow the reason they gave for giving an order for Russian petrol was that the monopoly of home producers was exploiting the corporation?

I have no information.

Will the Lord Advocate make inquiries and ascertain whether my statement is correct?

Lieut.-Colonel C. MacANDREW:

May I ask whether in the answer the Lord Advocate has given the price of British petrol as compared with the price of Russian petrol?

I gave the price of British petrol as 12.61d. and that of Russian petrol as 12.04d.

Lieut.-Colonel MacANDREW:

Is not the present position totally different and that Russian petrol is now dearer?

Has the right hon. and learned Member taken into account the fact that the price of British petrol includes 8d. duty, and therefore that the statement that there was exploitation is not justified?