§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he was first informed that negotiations between Occidental Refineries Limited and United Refineries Limited to build a single joint refinery on Canvey Island to which he referred in his statement of 8th May were taking place; whether he was so informed by both companies or by one; and whether any indication was 133W given that a time limit was being set for the completion of the negotiations.
§ Mr. Crosland:With regard to the negotiations between Occidental Refineries Ltd. and United Refineries Ltd., I have nothing further to add to my reply on 8th May to the hon Member.—[Vol. 873, c. 157.] Timing is a matter for the two oil companies concerned.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the anxieties expressed to him by the hon. Member for Essex, South-East, the local authorities and amenity groups concerned about the impact of oil refinery development on the environment of South-East Essex, he will discuss with Occidental Refineries Limited the question of the desirability from the point of view of the public interest of proceeding further with the construction of its refinery until such outstanding matters as the proposal to merge the two refineries proposed for Canvey Island and his own decision in regard to a third refinery at Cliffe have been resolved.
§ Mr. CroslandI have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 16th May.—[Vol. 873, c. 505.]