§ 35. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for priority allocation of energy resources.
§ Mr. David HowellUnder the powers of the Energy Act 1976, contingency plans exist for controlling the distribution of fuels if the need arises. However, as I told the House on 11 June, I do not consider it necessary or appropriate to invoke those powers in relation to the current level of shortfall in oil supplies to the United Kingdom market. On 2 July I stated that the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association had undertaken to handle the requirements of customers with particular problems as flexibly and swiftly as supply constraints allowed.