HL Deb 11 November 1976 vol 377 cc795-6

[Nos.21–24.]

Clause 9, page 10, line 31, leave out 'subsections (3) and (4)' and insert subsection (3)'.

Clause 9, page 10, line 34, leave out 'except in an oil refinery '.

Clause 9, page 10, line 40, leave out from section' to end of line 3 on page 11 and insert—

  1. '(a) if it is permitted under the terms of a production licence granted under United Kingdom legislation;
  2. (b) if it is of refinery tail gas produced in refining crude liquid petroleum (and "refining" here does not include the treatment of crude for the sole purpose of enabling it to be safely stored or transported);
  3. (c) if it is necessary in connection with the start-up or shut-down of manufacturing plant; or
  4. (d) if it is necessary in the interests of the safety of such plant, or
  5. (e) if it is necessary in order to comply with a requirement imposed by or under any enactment.'

Page 11, line 3, at end insert— '() In this section "manufacturing plant" means plant used for any of the activities referred to in any of the minimum list headings in Orders III to XIX (inclusive) of the Standard Industrial Classification.'

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 21 to 24 en bloc. The first two Amendments are paving Amendments to 23; Amendment No. 24 contains a definition and is consequential to Amendment No. 23. Amendment 23 brings together the exceptions when disposal of gas by flaring does not require a consent and incorporates three straightforward changes which are acceptable to the oil and petrochemical industries. The first limits the exception of flaring in an oil refinery to a particular process, the flaring of tail gas.

The second excepts flaring in connection with the start up or shut down or operational safety of manufacturing plant instead of industrial plant—the latter the Government feel, is too wide a term. The third is a new exception for flaring necessary to comply with a requirement under other legislation, such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments.

Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(Lord Kirkhill.)