§ Mr. Ron Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider, in regard to the Flixborough disaster, referring to the Director of Public Prosecutions the issue of the storage of very large quantities of inflammable materials without licence by Nypro, contrary to the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928, at the plant.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerProsecution under Section 1 of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 is by summary proceeding in the magistrates' court. The question of whether or not to proceed was considered and a decision not to proceed was taken by the enforcing authority, Humberside County Council, before proceedings became time-barred on 1st December 1974.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Press Notice issued on 12th May 1975 by his Department and summarising the report of the court of inquiry into the Flixborough disaster made no mention of the finding in paragraph 194 to the effect that on the 1st June 1974, Nypro (UK) Limited was storing on site 330,000 gallons of cyclohexane, 59,000 gallons of naphtha, 26,400 gallons of benzene and 11,000 gallons of tuolene without the licence required under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe Press Notice to which my hon. Friend refers did con-538W tain a mention of the finding in paragraph 194 of the Court of Inquiry's report. It said:
The Report also considers, and suggests that the matters be taken up by the appropriate bodies, questions of planning procedures, emergency co-ordination arrangements, and licensing the storage of hazardous substances—including a review of existing regulations.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions the finding of the court of inquiry into the Flixborough disaster that Nypro (UK) Limited was storing on site without the licence required by the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 330,000 gallons of cyclohexane, 29,000 gallons of naphtha, 26,400 gallons of benzene and 11,000 gallons of tuolene; and whether he will subsequently communicate to Parliament any report he may receive from the director in this regard.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerProsecution under Section 1 of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 is by summary proceeding in the magistrates' court. The question of whether or not to proceed was considered and a decision not to proceed was taken by the enforcing authority, Humberside County Council, before proceedings became time-barred on 1st December 1974.