§ Mr. Les Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent it his policy to maximise North Sea oil production refined in the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GrayI welcome the refining in the United Kingdom of crude oil from the United Kingdom continental shelf to the extent that it is economic. That will depend on several factors such as relative prices of such crudes and imported crudes, the absolute level of demand for oil products in the United Kingdom and the relative demand for different products in the market served by United Kingdom refineries.