§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the value of the public grants and subsidies given to each of the three largest—as measured by sales revenue—oil companies operating in the United Kingdom in respect of their mainland operations during each of the last five complete years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzie:The three largest oil companies operating in the United Kingdom, as measured by sales, are Esso Petroleum, Shell (UK) and BP Co. Ltd. Sales in the United Kingdom by the two latter companies are conducted mainly through a joint marketing subsidiary. Figures for Government grants to Esso for the four years 1970–73 inclusive were given in my reply to the Question from the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mrs. Bain) on 29th July 1974. I regret that information for the other two companies is not readily available.