asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated cost of providing plant and equipment for British refineries for processing North Sea oil; or whether it is intended to treat the EEC as an integrated market and allow substantial quantities of crude to be refined on the Continent.

Existing British refineries and those currently planned will be capable of refining North Sea oil though some may require minor modifications. I expect substantial quantities to be refined in this country, though no doubt some will be exported for refining elsewhere.