§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many petrol suppliers' sales exceed 10 million gallons per annum; and how many of these make more than 15 per cent. of their sales through their own stations, contrary to the recommendations of the Monopolies Commission.
§ Mr. RidleyI am not able to give information of the kind requested.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many petrol suppliers have kept their original undertaking not to increase their ownership of petrol stations if total petrol sales are 50 million gallons and 15 per cent. of these sales are through their own stations; and why this undertaking is no longer demanded.
§ Mr. RidleyPetrol suppliers were released from this undertaking in 1968 by the previous administration. I would not wish to reimpose it because I believe a restriction on the acquisition of petrol stations by petrol companies would frustrate new entrants to the market.
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§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure freedom of consumer choice in petrol brands, lubricants and accessories at petrol stations.
§ Mr. RidleyI do not believe that consumers have any undue difficulty in obtaining the petrol of their choice. As regards lubricants and accessories, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question of 18th October, 1971.—[Vol. 823, c.27.]
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will set up an inquiry into restrictive pressures upon tenants and licensees of petrol supplier-owned stations which result in the limitation of consumer choice of lubricants and accessories.
§ Mr. RidleyThe undertakings which the petrol companies gave following the Monopolies Commission report to end these restrictions are still in force. If the hon. Member has evidence that the undertakings are being broken, I am ready to investigate it.
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Output per manshift Manpower Change (000) Pit Closures Coal Production (million tons) Fatal accidents Fatal accidents as percentage of work force 1947 … 21.85 +26.3 * 197.2 618 0.085 1948 … 22.56 -7.9 * 209.1 468 0.062 1949 … 23.70 -17.4 28 214.9 460 0.062 1950 … 24.45 -20.4 11 216.0 493 0.068 1951 … 24.77 +9.2 5 221.1 487 0.067 1952 … 24.46 +21.9 16 224.6 420 0.056 1953 … 24.86 -13.2 5 223.3 392 0.053 1954 … 24.89 -0.4 8 223.6 371 0.050 1955 … 24.72 -5.6 17 221.6 425 0.058 1956 … 24.84 +3.1 10 222.0 330 0.045 1957 … 24.86 +6.1 18 223.6 396 0.054 1958 … 25.58 -22.6 29 215.8 327 0.045 1959 … 26.93 -47.1 56 206.1 348 0.051 1960 … 28.03 -51.0 35 193.6 317 0.051 1961 … 28.94 -21.8 29 190.5 235 0.040 1962 … 31.20 -25.0 51 197.4 257 0.045 1963 … 32.96 -25.6 33 195.8 254 0.047 1964 … 34.35 -26.0 34 193.6 198 0.038 1965 … 35.90 -37.7 44 187.5 216 0.045 1966 … 36.35 -32.4 61 174.6 160 0.036 1967 … 38.18 -32.0 29 172.1 151 0.036 1968 … 41.73 -57.3 70 164.1 115 0.031 1969 … 43.45 -24.9 26 150.5 100 0.031 1970 … 44.10 -16.5 10 144.7 91 0.030 1971 … 43.94 -4.3 4 142.3 72 0.025 * Not available.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration his Department is giving to the problems caused for disabled persons by the conversion of an increasing number of petrol stations to self-service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyI understand that the great majority of self-service petrol stations have some staff in attendance able to give service to disabled persons