§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has yet had a meeting with the oil companies which have planning permission to build refineries in Canvey Island in order to discuss a merger of those refineries and what is the outcome; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. VarleyI saw representatives of both companies on 10th June. Subsequently officials of my Department have held a number of separate meetings with the companies and some progress has been made in bringing the parties closer together. These discussions are continuing.