asked the Minister for External Affairs whether, in view of the uncertainty which continues to prevail as to the future availability of oil and petrol supplies from the Eastern Mediterranean and America by reason of the continued Anglo-French occupation of portions of Egypt, he will consider entering into consultation with other Western European Governments not involved in the Middle East conflict with a view to ensuring the availability of oil and petrol supplies essential to the safeguarding of the economy of the countries not involved in the conflict.

We are already in consultation with our fellow-members in the O.E.E.C. which has decided to take concerted action to arrange for the best use of available oil and petrol supplies for Western Europe. The Oil Committee of the O.E.E.C. has for some time been examining the measures required and all member countries have agreed that the allocation of available supplies should be undertaken by the O.E.E.C.