§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many written or verbal complaints were received by his Department and the Office of Fair Trading in each year from 1996 to date about (i) unfair agreement terms being applied by oil companies to operators of retail petrol sites and (ii) the actions taken by the oil companies which did not conform to the agreement signed by the operators. [86710]
§ Dr. HowellsMy Department and the Office of Fair Trading have received a number of complaints about agreements between oil companies and petrol retailers during 1996–99. The cost of providing an accurate breakdown of these on a year-by-year basis would be disproportionate.
The Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for investigating complaints about anti-competitive behaviour. He does not however have a locus to intervene in contractual disputes unless these raise competition concerns.
§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the review of the petrol undertakings by the Office of Fair Trading will be completed; if he will publish the findings of the review; and if he will make a statement. [86767]
§ Dr. HowellsThe timing of the review is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. My right hon. Friend and I will receive advice from him when the review is complete. I will announce my decision in due course.
§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by number and grade the officials employed full-time in monitoring the UK retail petrol market and the departments to which they belong. [86768]
§ Dr. HowellsNo officials in the Department of Trade and Industry or the Office of Fair Trading have responsibility for monitoring the UK retail petrol market on a permanent full-time basis.
§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons the Office of Fair Trading's inquiry into the retail petrol market, published in May 1998, did not include an examination of retail petrol stations located on motorway service areas. [86769]
4W
§ Dr. HowellsThe content of the report is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. The report, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House, examined the supply of petrol by all retail outlets. However, I understand that motorway service areas were not referred to specifically as they were not considered to be in a separate market.