HC Deb 10 December 1981 vol 14 c451W
Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will initiate a further investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into petrol, with particular reference to the position of licensees and tenants and their insecurity of tenure on petrol company-owned filling stations.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many independent petrol retailers have closed since 1971; and what percentage that figure is of the total.

Mr. Gray

It is estimated that, from 1971 until the end of 1980, 9,000 independently owned petrol retail sites were closed. This represents about a third of the total number of such sites in 1971.