HC Deb 25 May 2000 vol 350 c600W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has of smuggled petroleum products being offered to petrol retailers in the North West of England since 1999. [122946]

Mrs. Liddell

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: There is no substantiated evidence of smuggled products being offered to petrol retailers in the North West of England.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the size of the road transportation retail fuel market in England and Wales for(a) diesel and (b) petrol in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999. [122945]

Mrs. Liddell

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: Retail sales for all types of petrol in England and Wales were 19,662 thousand tonnes in 1998 and 19,444 thousand tonnes in 1999. Retail sales for automotive diesel (DERV) were 6,018 thousand tonnes in 1998 and 6,329 thousand tonnes in 1999. These figures exclude direct deliveries to commercial customers. The 1999 data are provisional.