§ 17. Mr. Wyattasked the Minister of Power by what amount the annual production of fuel oil from refineries in the United Kingdom increased during the period from the beginning of 1953 to the end of 1959; and by what amount the annual inland consumption of fuel oil increased in the same period.
§ Mr. WoodBy 5 million tons and 10 million tons, respectively. Throughout the period production in the United Kingdom refineries has exceeded inland consumption.
§ Mr. WyattWill the Minister give me that Answer again? I could not understand the "5 million tons and 10 million tons, respectively". It suggests that inland consumption is in excess of the increased production by United Kingdom refineries.
§ Mr. WoodThe answer to the Question is in two parts. The hon. Member first asks for the increase in annual production in these years, and the answer is 5 million tons. He then asks for the increase in inland consumption, and the answer to that is 10 million tons.
§ Mr. WyattIt is not clear that the difference must have been made up by imports of fuel oil and that the Government have been trying to conceal this from the public for the last two or three years? Is that not very dangerous to the coal industry and ought not something to be done to stop it?
§ Mr. WoodThat is not the conclusion at all. In 1953 several post-war refineries come into operation for the first time, and for some time their capacity greatly exceeded the demand. As I said in the original Answer, throughout the period production in United Kingdom refineries has exceeded consumption.