HC Deb 31 January 1973 vol 849 cc1357-9
24. Mr. Lambie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the applications he is considering for planning permission to construct oil refineries in Scotland.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Two.

Mr. Lambie

What information has the Secretary of State about whether BP is to proceed with the proposed extension of its oil refinery at Grangemouth? Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm or deny that BP has made secret representations to the Department of Trade and Industry to stop ORSI and the Chevron oil companies from building oil refineries at Hunterston in Ayrshire?

Mr. Campbell

There is no question of stopping companies from building refineries. These matters come forward as applications for planning permission but, as the hon. Gentleman knows—as the House has been informed previously—the question of sites is also being looked into, to see which sort of sites in Scotland might be appropriate for oil refineries.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

In considering such applications, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the ratio between taxpayer subsidisation for building oil refineries and the number of jobs created is really highly unfavourable?

Mr. Campbell

I know that this is a point which my hon. Friend has raised previously, but none the less, oil refineries in certain circumstances can provide a spin-off of jobs in associated industry, and this is the kind of point which also has to be borne in mind for industrial redevelopment in Scotland.

Mr. Ronald King Murray

As there are only two applications, will the Secretary of State say to which sites they relate?

Mr. Campbell

One is at Hunterston and, of course, there has also been the application at Invergordon, where planning permission was granted.

Sir F. Maclean

Does my right hon. Friend agree that a British oil refinery or the extension of a British oil refinery at Grangemouth is a far more attractive proposition for Scotland than a foreign oil refinery at Hunterston?

Mr. Campbell

As my hon. Friend knows, I cannot comment on the merits of cases because they come before me as planning Minister for Scotland.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

Has not the Secretary of State called in these applications, and is it not also the case that in view of the information from the Chevron Oil Company yesterday he may be obliged to call it in in that case too? What procedure does the right hon. Gentleman intend to follow in view of the very lengthy inquiry, the longest ever in Scotland, involving that same company and the whole peninsula? What does he intend to do now that he has received the applications? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we shall deeply resent a situation arising in any part of Scotland whereby we export crude oil from Scotland instead of refining it at home?

Mr. Campbell

The hon. Gentleman knows that as planning Minister I cannot comment on the merits of applications which are before me. But I also hope that Hunterston will be used for the best possible advantage of Scottish industry. Therefore, I encourage as many applications for suitable industry as possible to be put forward. But as planning Minister I have to consider under the proper procedures whether the application can be approved. On the last point on calling in, under my planning decision of two years ago at Hunterston every individual application will have to go to the Secretary of State—that is, to myself or my successor.