asked the Minister for Energy how it occurred that statistics relating to petroleum products delivered for inland consumption and recently published in the official journal of the Department of Trade and Industry were incorrect.

The errors arose in transcribing a row of numbers from the data source into the form in which they were being prepared for publication, and from which deliveries of certain non-fuel petroleum products were inadvertently omitted. The data source itself, which is used for internal policy purposes, was correct. Correct figures were published in Trade and Industry for 10th January, 1974. The Department much regrets the error.