§ 22. Mr. Millanasked the Minister of Power what proportion of the total throughput of oil refineries in Great Britain came from refineries in Scotland in 1948 and in 1961; and what was the percentage increase or decrease in throughput over the period in Great Britain and in Scotland respectively.
§ Mr. WoodThe Scottish share of the total throughput of oil refineries in Great Britain was 16.6 per cent. in 1948, and 6.9 per cent. in 1961. The annual average increase over the period was 12.4 per cent. in Scotland and 20.2 per cent. in Great Britain.
§ Mr. MillanIf the Minister can give us no assurance about the Scottish position with regard to older industries like the coal industry, can he not at least tell us what power or influence he has to say that newer industries, like the oil refining industry, will bring more than a fair share of their capacity to Scotland as distinct from what has been happening since 1948?
§ Mr. WoodI am left in considerable doubt as to whether the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends want me to increase 27 or reduce this proportion. Although throughput in Scotland is lower than it is in the rest of Great Britain, it has in fact increased substantially from 750,000 tons to nearly 34½ million tons. Scottish refineries provide most of the total Scottish demand for refined products and for raw materials for the petroleum-chemical industry there.
§ Mr. MillanBut when it comes to the question of the expansion of oil refinery capacity in future, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that Scotland gets more than a fair share of it, since she has had less than her fair share in the past both with regard to that industry and with regard to older industries?