§ Mr. Marlandasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he will take to ensure adequate fuel supplies are available to those involved in the production of food.
§ Mr. GrayThe oil companies and distributors are in the best position to ensure that fuel supplies to the food industry are maintained. Where the oil companies' 289W appeal procedures fail to resolve a genuine supply problem, or where they appear to reveal inequity of treatment by the supplier, my Department's small supply liaison unit is prepared to investigate and has, in fact, already been able to help in a number of cases.
Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are also monitoring the situation and are in close contact with my Department's supply liaison unit so as to ensure that particular problems are identified at an early stage.
I emphasise, however, that those involved in the production of food, like everyone else, must be prepared to make economies in their use of oil.