Written question asked by Bob Spink (Independent (affiliation)) on Tuesday, 8 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 December 2009. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Thursday, 7 January 2010 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

BP: Canvey Island

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects on the use of the local road network of BP's contract to lease the Oikos terminal on Canvey Island; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: I have been asked to reply:The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has made no assessment of the effects on the use of the local road network of BP Oil UK Ltd.'s contract to lease storage facilities at Oikos Storage Ltd.'s site on Canvey Island.Oikos will remain the operator of this site for the purposes of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) and will have overall responsibility for safety throughout the duration of the BP contract. HSE's role is to monitor safety at the site. HSE will continue to do this and will assess any significant changes that Oikos make to the site and to the site's COMAH safety report as a result of the implementation of the BP contract. As part of their responsibilities under COMAH, Oikos are expected to identify and assess hazards and risks associated with the transport of hazardous substances that could lead to major accidents at the site.HSE understands that hazardous materials will be transferred to and from the Oikos site though underground pipelines throughout the duration of the BP contract. The safety of any hazardous materials transported by road in, for example, road tankers, would be covered by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Regulations 2009 enforced the Police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

Secondary information