HC Deb 07 April 1998 vol 310 cc154-5W
Dr. Gibson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of alkylphenolic substances was discharged by the offshore oil and gas industry in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the reliability of the figures. [32387]

Mr. Battle

[holding answer 5 March 1998]Data on discharges of alkylphenolic substances for the years 1993 and 1997. Discharges for those years are as follows:

Year Tonnes
1993 34.35
1994 32.18
1995 25.20
1996 48.09
1997 54.36

The figures are supplied by the oil and gas industry to Government under the provisions of the Offshore Chemical Notification Scheme. Both industry and Government make every effort to improve the accuracy of the data supplied and it is possible that one reason for the apparent increase in recent years is as a result of these efforts. In addition, my offshore inspectors make spot checks of chemicals held and used offshore.

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