HC Deb 22 June 1979 vol 968 cc716-7W
Mr. Budgen

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of the Energy Council.

Mr. David Howell

The third EEC Council of Energy Ministers under the French Presidency met in Luxembourg on 18 June. The Council discussed the Community approach towards the current oil situation in preparation for the European Council and the Tokyo summit.

The Council reaffirmed the urgent need for member States to adopt demand restraint measures to achieve the March European Council's objective of reducing Community oil imports in 1979 by 5 per cent. to 500 million tonnes. Member States confirmed their readiness to study whatever additional measures seem necessary to tackle the current serious oil situation, and to keep the possibility of further action under close review.

The Council invited the Commission to discuss with the oil companies improving market information by including crude oil as well as petroleum products in the Rotterdam check run. They also agreed to discuss at the Tokyo summit, without commitment at this stage, other possibilities for improving the transparency of the market.