HC Deb 02 April 1996 vol 275 cc150-1W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the minimum tonnage of crude oil as collated by Customs and Excise required to be stored at each of the United Kingdom oil refineries. [24263]

Mr. Page

There is no requirement for crude oil to be stored specifically at UK oil refineries.

Oil refining companies are currently directed to hold stocks of petroleum products amounting to 75 days of their deliveries into final consumption in the previous year in three product categories specified by EC directive 68/414/EEC. Directions do not specify the location in which stocks are to be held.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the tonnage of crude oil as collated by Customs and Excise stored at each of the United Kingdom oil refineries on or about 15 January, 15 February 1996 and 15 December 1995. [24262]

Mr. Page

The information requested is not readily available in the time given and is treated as commercially confidential.

The information provided by the oil industry does not separate oil held at refineries as opposed to other facilities. The collection of the information required would impose disproportionate costs.

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