§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the risk to residents of an accidental release of vapour in adverse weather conditions from liquefied petroleum gas tanks at the British Gas Corporation's installation at Canvey Island envisaged in page 67 of the recent Health and Safety Executive's report, he is satisfied that the storage tanks and protective bunds currently in use are of the requisite standard for safety, and that the Executive has adequate powers to require the Corporation to decommission the tanks.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Health and Safety Executive's report states that in order to reduce the risks at the British Gas Corporation's terminal on Canvey Island significantly, it will be necessary for action to be considered to meet the suggestions of the investigating team. These suggestions include possible changes in liquefied petroleum gas storage arrangements and are at present being considered by the British Gas Corporation. The executive considers that it has adequate powers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to ensure that appropriate improvements can be achieved at the terminal.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will inquire of the Health and Safety Executive what quantities of propylene are stored in the area from Stanford le Hope to Canvey Island recently investigated by them, and where; what inquiries were made during that investigation as to the number of road tanker journeys from the area carrying this material; and whether he is satisfied that the Executive has adequate powers to prevent such journeys being made on roads close to residential populations.
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§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that no propylene is stored or transported by road in the area covered by the recent Health and Safety Executive investigation; no inquiries were made as to the number of tanker journeys from the area carrying this matter; the Health and Safety Executive is satisfied that it has adequate powers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to prohibit the carriage of hazardous materials by road should the circumstances justify it.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will list the quantities of liquefied gases by category and type stored in industrial installations in Thurrock and Canvey Island which were the subject of a recent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive;
(2) whether he will list the names and quantities of liquefied gases stored in industrial installations within the area of Thurrock and Canvey Island recently investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Corn-mission that the principal bulk storages of liquefied gases stored in industrial installations within the area of the HSE investigation were found to be as follows:
(1) Ammonia
- (a) One refrigerated low-pressure storage tank, maximum capacity about 14,000 tonnes;
- (b) One semi-refrigerated pressure storage tank, maximum capacity about 1,900 tonnes.
(2) Natural Gas
- (a) Four refrigerated in-ground storage tanks, each of about 20,000 tonnes maximum capacity;
- (b) Eight refrigerated above-ground storage tanks, six being each of about 4,000 tonnes maximum capacity, and two being each of about 1,000 tonnes maximum capacity.
(3) Petroleum Gas, predominantly C3 hydrocarbons, "propane".
- (a) Four spherical pressure storage tanks, total maximum capacity about 1,600 tonnes
- (b) Thirteen horizontal cylindrical pressure storage tanks, total maximum capacity about 1,120 tonnes.
(4) Petroleum Gas, predominantly C4 hydrocarbon, "butane".
- (a) Three refrigerated low pressure storage tanks, one of about 10,000 tonnes maximum capacity and two each of about 5,000 tonnes maximum capacity.
378 - (b) Eight spherical pressure storage tanks, total maximum capacity about 5,100 tonnes, one being of about 1,700 tonnes maximum capacity.
- (c) Two horizontal cylindrical pressure storage tanks, total maximum capacity about 120 tonnes.
(5) Petroleum Gas, mixed hydrocarbons, "propane" and "butane".
Three horizontal pressure storage tanks, total maximum capacity about 400 tonnes.
(6) Petroleum Gas, dual service, either "propane" and "butane".
One spherical pressure storage tank, maximum capacity about 900 tonnes.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment why licences have to be issued by the Essex County Council in connection with the storage of hazardous substances on Canvey Island but not in respect of the same substances in nearby Thurrock.
§ Mr. John GrantThe chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the premises at Canvey are licensed by Essex county council under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928, since petroleum-spirit and liquid methane are kept there and, consequently, the local authority may attach to any licence such conditions as they think necessary for the storage of other hazardous substances at these sites.
At Thurrock, there are premises which are similarly licensed under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928. However, there are also at Thurrock hazardous substances which are kept at premises not subject to licensing control under the 1928 Act. The safety of these substances are covered by the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974 and its subordinate legislation.