Oral Answers to Questions — West Indies. – in the House of Commons at on 15 October 1941.
Commander Robert Bower
, Cleveland
asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether arrangements are now being made to develop the Dead Sea oilfield, in view of the threat to other sources of supply?
Mr George Hall
, Merthyr Tydfil Aberdare
No, Sir. It has not yet been proved that an economic oilfield exists in the Dead Sea area, and the plant and skilled personnel which would be required for the purpose can be better employed elsewhere on fully developed oilfields.
Commander Robert Bower
, Cleveland
Does not the geographical position of this oilfield offer many advantages? Have not experiments already carried out shown that there is an oilfield in this area, and can the hon. Gentleman give some assurance that the development of this oilfield will not be prevented by interlocking international vested interests?
Mr George Hall
, Merthyr Tydfil Aberdare
At the moment it is a question of personnel and machinery.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
