To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the loan applications to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1) by Monsanto Corporation to guarantee operations in Russia and eastern Europe, and (2) by a consortium to enlarge an existing oil refinery at Mostorod, a district of urban...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the loan applications to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1) by Monsanto Corporation to guarantee operations in Russia and eastern Europe, and (2) by a consortium to enlarge an existing oil refinery at Mostorod, a district of urban...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of oil or gas refineries employing UK citizens in (a) the Middle East, (b) North Africa and the Sahel, (c) Europe, (d) South East Asia and (e) North America.

[140633]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of oil or gas refineries employing UK citizens in (a) the Middle East, (b) North Africa and the Sahel, (c) Europe, (d) South East Asia and (e) North America.

[140633]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage refineries to generate their own electricity using combined heat and power once levy exemption certificates are removed and carbon price support rates introduced in 2013.

[122872]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage refineries to generate their own electricity using combined heat and power once levy exemption certificates are removed and carbon price support rates introduced in 2013.

[122872]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the financial effect on UK refineries of the removal of levy exemption certificates.

[122873]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the financial effect on UK refineries of the removal of levy exemption certificates.

[122873]

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) refining capacity of UK oil refineries and (b) minimum number of refineries which the UK needs to retain as long-term strategic assets; and if he will make a statement.

[114156]

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) refining capacity of UK oil refineries and (b) minimum number of refineries which the UK needs to retain as long-term strategic assets; and if he will make a statement.

[114156]

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the comparative regulatory burdens on the UK oil refining industry in (a) the UK, (b) India and (c) Saudi Arabia; what effect such differences have on the competitiveness of the UK oil refining...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the comparative regulatory burdens on the UK oil refining industry in (a) the UK, (b) India and (c) Saudi Arabia; what effect such differences have on the competitiveness of the UK oil refining...

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to express the grave concern that surrounds yesterday’s announcement that the Coryton oil refinery in my constituency will close. When the company was placed into administration five months ago, many of us believed that, because of its profitability and its...

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to express the grave concern that surrounds yesterday’s announcement that the Coryton oil refinery in my constituency will close. When the company was placed into administration five months ago, many of us believed that, because of its profitability and its...

I associate myself with those comments and pay my own personal tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for South Basildon and East Thurrock (Stephen Metcalfe) who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring all the interested parties together. He has done so with dedication to achieving the outcome...

I associate myself with those comments and pay my own personal tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for South Basildon and East Thurrock (Stephen Metcalfe) who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring all the interested parties together. He has done so with dedication to achieving the outcome...

I thank my hon. Friend for her comments. Yes, I would like to thank the Minister personally for his help and support. I would also like to thank Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and from the Treasury for what they have done to help me work...

I thank my hon. Friend for her comments. Yes, I would like to thank the Minister personally for his help and support. I would also like to thank Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and from the Treasury for what they have done to help me work...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I am afraid that time is limited; I am sorry, but no.

The people I want to thank the most are the staff, the management—particularly Jon Barden and Georgina Clarke—and, of course, the unions. Without their commitment, the business might well have closed months ago. Instead, it had time to search...

I am afraid that time is limited; I am sorry, but no.

The people I want to thank the most are the staff, the management—particularly Jon Barden and Georgina Clarke—and, of course, the unions. Without their commitment, the business might well have closed months ago. Instead, it had time to search...

Must it not be utterly dismaying for the work force of 900 people in what was a very successful and profitable refinery to find that that they are losing their jobs, although the parent company was able to go on leveraging debt against that successful refinery?

Must it not be utterly dismaying for the work force of 900 people in what was a very successful and profitable refinery to find that that they are losing their jobs, although the parent company was able to go on leveraging debt against that successful refinery?

Yes. When the company went into administration, finding that all the debt was leveraged against that one refinery must have come as a shock to all concerned. That just shows the mismanagement of the parent company in Switzerland.

Once appointed, the administrators stabilised the situation and began looking for a long-term...

Yes. When the company went into administration, finding that all the debt was leveraged against that one refinery must have come as a shock to all concerned. That just shows the mismanagement of the parent company in Switzerland.

Once appointed, the administrators stabilised the situation and began looking for a long-term...

Naturally, as we have reached the endgame, there is lots of rumour and speculation, and certainly the Russian bid has been trying to get its case across since discovering it has not won. Is there not the following alternative theory, however: far from this having been in the hands of...

Naturally, as we have reached the endgame, there is lots of rumour and speculation, and certainly the Russian bid has been trying to get its case across since discovering it has not won. Is there not the following alternative theory, however: far from this having been in the hands of...

It is difficult for me to speculate about what might, or might not, have happened and what discussions might have taken place, but I will say that more than one company has been in touch with me.

I find it extraordinary that the administrators, charged with getting the best deal for...

It is difficult for me to speculate about what might, or might not, have happened and what discussions might have taken place, but I will say that more than one company has been in touch with me.

I find it extraordinary that the administrators, charged with getting the best deal for...

Is it not crucial that we get to the bottom of this for the sake of all the people who will be losing their jobs, as well as other people in the supply chain? We need to know what went on, and that everything possible was done.

Is it not crucial that we get to the bottom of this for the sake of all the people who will be losing their jobs, as well as other people in the supply chain? We need to know what went on, and that everything possible was done.

I entirely agree. There could have been a different outcome if there had been more openness and transparency on all sides. I do not attribute fault to anyone, but these events need to be looked at. That different outcome could have been more beneficial to the bond holders, but my...

I entirely agree. There could have been a different outcome if there had been more openness and transparency on all sides. I do not attribute fault to anyone, but these events need to be looked at. That different outcome could have been more beneficial to the bond holders, but my...

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this important debate. I have experienced exactly the same situation in my constituency, and he is right in what he is saying about jobs. Thurrock council carried out an impact assessment study which showed that more than £100 million would be lost as...

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this important debate. I have experienced exactly the same situation in my constituency, and he is right in what he is saying about jobs. Thurrock council carried out an impact assessment study which showed that more than £100 million would be lost as...

Those discussions have been taking place behind closed doors and in private. I am sure that the Minister will tell us in his response what the reasons were and what avenues were explored. I can tell the hon. Gentleman that Thurrock council’s economic impact assessment, conducted by DTZ, estimated the...

Those discussions have been taking place behind closed doors and in private. I am sure that the Minister will tell us in his response what the reasons were and what avenues were explored. I can tell the hon. Gentleman that Thurrock council’s economic impact assessment, conducted by DTZ, estimated the...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his hard work. He knows he has had our support in his endeavours. Given the valid concerns he has raised, can he explain where the downside is of having a parliamentary inquiry?

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his hard work. He knows he has had our support in his endeavours. Given the valid concerns he has raised, can he explain where the downside is of having a parliamentary inquiry?