Written question asked by Michael Clapham (Labour) on Friday, 29 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 November 2004. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 November 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much oil was used in the UK in the last year for which figures are available; how much was imported and from where; how much was burned in power stations; how much was used for domestic and industrial heating; and how much was used by industry for purposes other than heating. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 4 November 2004).

Answer: Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much oil was used in the UK in the last year for which figures are available; how much was imported and from where; how much was burned in power stations; how much was used for domestic and industrial heating; and how much was used by industry for purposes other than heating. [195699] Mr. Mike O'Brien: [holding answer 4 November 2004]: The latest annual figures for UK consumption of petroleum products in 2003 were published in table 3.4 of the 2004 edition of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics. In 2003 UK consumption of petroleum products was 77.8 million tonnes of which 0.6 million tonnes was used in power stations, 6.7 million tonnes were used by industry and 3.1 million tonnes by domestic households. It is not possible to split the industrial usage between heating and other energy uses such as cooking. However recent studies by the Building Research Establishment show that around three- quarters of domestic oil consumption is used for space heating. Previous studies have suggested that less than five percent of industrial use of oil is for space heating purposes. Total UK imports of petroleum products in 2003 were 17.3 million tonnes with 8.6 million tonnes from European countries, 3 million tonnes from the former Soviet Union, 4.5 million tonnes from the Middle East and 1.1 million tonnes from other countries.

Secondary information