§ Mr. MillerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on the oil refining sector.
§ Mr. EggarMy policy toward the oil refining sector, as for other business sectors, is to maintain a close liaison and dialogue with the sector and thus acquire an awareness of its needs and of the influences upon its competitiveness from both at home and abroad. I aim to ensure that those needs are taken into account by Government and within the European Community. I shall continue to encourage the maintenance of open markets in the trading of oil and oil products.
While I expect the oil refining sector to respond effectively to environmental developments, I shall ensure that the Government's environmental policies take proper account of their impact on the sector. The European Energy Council, under the United Kingdom presidency, has today invited the Commission to consult the industry fully and at an early stage in the development of environmental measures, particularly on the cost implications.
§ Mr. MillerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department has given to the oil refining sector in(a) Cheshire and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. EggarThere has been no financial assistance from my Department to the oil refining industry in(a) Cheshire and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom in the past three years.