HC Deb 26 July 1982 vol 28 c366W
Mr. Les Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish details of employment in United Kingdom oil refineries and associated petrochemical and downstream activities during each of the past five years; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Waddington

The following table gives, for the United Kingdom, the numbers of employees in employment in the mineral oil refining industry (minimum list heading 262 of the 1968 standard industrial classification) at April each year from 1978. The heading covers the refining of petroleum or shale oil and the production of medicinal paraffin, paraffin wax, petroleum jelly, etc.

April each year Thousands
1978 22.0
1979 *22.1
1980 *21.7
1981 *21.3
1982 *18.8
* Provisional.

The most recent figures reflect closure decisions taken by refinery companies since 1981. These closures are a response to the continuing overcapacity in refining in Western Europe.