HC Deb 15 May 1973 vol 856 cc305-6W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will study the effect of the reduction of lead in gasoline to comply with environmental standards upon the demand for more benzene for maintaining high octane ratings and the consequential reduction in the quantity of aromatics for the production of styrene and polystyrene.

Mr. Emery

The time allowed for progressive phasing of the reduction of the

LOAN AND GRANT ASSISTANCE OFFERED AT END OF MARCH
Loans Grants
Region Number of firms Value £000 Number of firms Value £000
Northern … … … 23 1,583 24 412
North West … … … 6 2,746 7 7,043
Yorkshire and Humberside … … … 3 215 10 263
South West … … … 4 554 6 72
East Midlands … … … 3 415 1 ✶
West Midlands … … … Nil Nil Nil Nil
Wales … … … 11 1,503 7 27
Scotland … … … 30 5,830 8 88
London and South East … … … 1 750 Nil Nil
* Value not disclosed for reasons of commercial confidences.

lead content in petrol in the United Kingdom was agreed after consultation with the oil industry, and we do not expect this to cause any difficulty in the supply of benzene.