§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many petrol stations in the United Kingdom have installed vapour recovery equipment in the last year to comply with EC directives. [65248]
§ Mr. MeacherI have been asked to reply.
Under Directive 94/63/EC, implemented under the Environment Protection Act 1990, from 31 December 2001 all existing petrol stations in the UK with an annual throughput greater than 500 cu m are required to have 941W installed Stage I petrol vapour recovery controls. It is estimated that this measure is likely to have effected around 1,700 petrol stations in the UK over a six year period, based on 1998 site figures. In England and Wales local authorities are responsible for the implementation of Stage I equipment at petrol stations in their region. In Scotland this is the role of SEPA and in Northern Ireland the local enforcing authority.