HC Deb 08 February 2001 vol 362 cc628-9W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of garages sell low sulphur fuel(a) nationally, (b) in the North West and (c) in Wales. [149565]

Mr. Hain

Ultra-low sulphur diesel is available at virtually every petrol retail outlet in the UK.

Regarding ultra-low sulphur petrol (ULSP), according to HM Customs and Excise's "Hydrocarbons Oils Bulletin", in mid-January 2001 (latest available data), ULSP constituted around half of petrol released for consumption in the UK. The equivalent figure for November 2000 was around one third. HM Customs and Excise collects data on a company by company, rather than a regional, basis. There are no separate figures for the North West of England or Wales.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many outlets sell ultra-low sulphur petrol in(a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Highlands; and how many outlets have begun to sell ultra-low sulphur petrol since 8 November 2000. [149336]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 7 February 2001]: According to HM Customs and Excise's "Hydrocarbons Oils Bulletin", in mid-January 2001 (latest available data), ULSP constituted around half of petrol released for consumption in the UK. The equivalent figure for November 2000 was around one third. HM Customs and Excise collects data on a company by company, rather than a regional, basis. There are no separate figures for Scotland or the Highlands.