§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries are being made into the recent fire at the Shellhaven Oil Refinery; and what arrangements there are for ensuring that any conclusions reached are made known to Benfleet and Canvey Island Urban District Councils, in whose area two additional oil refineries are being constructed.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI have been asked to reply.
442WThe recent fire at Shellhaven Oil Refinery is being investigated by the district inspector of factories with the assistance of a specialist chemical inspector from the branch of the Factory Inspectorate concerned with fire and explosion hazards. There are established arrangements for co-operation between the Factory Inspectorate and local planning authorities in cases where development involving the use or storage in bulk of hazardous materials is proposed. Any lessons to be learnt from the fire at Shellhaven would be taken into account in advice given to the local planning authority concerned.