HKK360/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTEM NO. 51
- A JUN 1979
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
R
PA
¡Action
ก
{.A.
80
527
Oil
[ LORDS]
[The Earl of Gowrie.j indeed unable, to buy in that market, and have had had to reduce inland deliveries according to such allocations as they received from the major oil companies. Their customers have accordingly been worried by considerable reductions in their normal supplies. In most cases they have been able to manage by securing additional supplies from elsewhere, but this must often be at higher prices more or less closely related to those obtaining in the international market-the Rotterdam mar- ket, if one is to use a shorthand term.
No
Supplies
demand restraint measures. I can assure the noble Lord, Lord Collison, that if we had to do that the needs of horti- cultural producers, as indeed of the agricultural sector generally, would of course be kept very high. Such a scheme, although it could correct the more severe cases of deprivation and be ostensibly fair, could not in fact be altogether fair, since it could not make allowance for the good fuel conservationist as against the consumer who has made little effort to economise. Finally, it would also entail a considerable administrative effort which could be wholly avoided-with better results, surely-if consumers will them- selves make the effort to economise.
The Department of Energy has been active in piloting consumers through the oil companies' " appeals " procedure, interceding with oil companies where an appeal seems not to have been so care- fully considered as it could have been, and suggesting alternative sources for oil when this was the only remedy. Clearly the fact that oil companies are allocating oil will in itself bring about some reduction in internal use, and there- fore help us to meet to some degree our demand restraint objectives. But this tet is bound to be arbitrary as between customers of one company as against another, according to the individual company's capecity to supply. Our job in government is at present to keep a close watch on the effect of allocation schemes, since if they result in unacceptable difficulties for some consumers we shall have to consider means of bringing about a more equitable distribution. It would be wrong to anticipate doing that until we have firmer evidence that the allocation schemes are not working. I am grateful for the evidence of difficulties that has been brought before me today, and I shall || Majesty's Government: investigate those difficulties.
To sum up, my Lords, it is clear that the days of plentiful oil are past, and that, even though this nation is fortunately placed in having producing fields which will soon meet total demand, it behoves us, for our own self-interest as well as in the interests of the associations of nations to which we belong, to seek actively to economise in our use of oi! without thereby injuring our productive capabilities. This is something which can certainly be done and we must make up our minds to do it.
If all consumers do what they can to reduce demands for oil, the result will be that all consumers, whoever their suppliers happen to be, will be able to get sufficient oil for their slightly reduced needs. Therefore, I most strongly hope and urge that all consumers take action to reduce their demands. Only a slight reduction, desirable in itself on both economy and price grounds, will be enough to bring about the effect we want. It would be a pity if, in default of this action by con- sumers. the Government were constrained to invoke the emergency powers of the 1976 Act and impose a Government allocation scheme or other compulsory
WRITTEN ANSWERS
HONG KONG PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE
Lord
BROCKWAY
asked
Her
Whether they will recommend an amendment of the Hong Kong Public Order Ordinance in view of the ruling by Mr. Justice Cons in the High Court on 19th April 1979 that tourists in coaches on conducted tours were taking part in an unlawful assembly.
The FOREIGN SECRETARY and MINISTER for OVERSEAS DEVELOP- MENT (Lord Carrington): This is a matter for the Hong Kong Government. The Attorney General of Hong Kong announ- ced in the Legislative Council on 9th May that a review was in hand of the provisions of the Public Order Ordinance relating to public meetings and processions.
DATE...24/5/79
COL. $281.....
VOL. 400
579
BRUNEI: POLITICAL E
Lord BROCKWAY asked H Government:
Whether they will use the with the Government of permit the return of politic an expression of democratiz independence.
Lord CARRINGTON: Agreement of 1971 the Go ro responsibility for Brun affairs.
CIDER: TAXATIO
Lord O'HAGAN asked t Government:
Whether they will re iinit below which fart makers are exempt from whether they are prepa discussions will intere: te
The MINISTER TREASURY (Lord Cockf prehensive review of the e for sman cider makers W duing the fiscal year 197 findings were published in t of the Commissioners of and Excise, Cmnd. 7455, 1979. A copy of the rep in the Library. The revie there was strong opposi the exemption limit from th tion representing the s cider makers and that n of hardship being caused farmhouse cider makers noble Lord has evidend hardship it would of carefully considered.
Interviewed at end March 1979
P
Dacca New Delhi Bombay
Islamabad
Karachi
Applied at end March 197>
Dacca New Delhi Bombay Islamabad Karachi
see
No
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