[holding answer 19 October 2006]: The following table shows the percentage shortfall in the UK's Category 2 obligation by month since January 1998. Where no shortfall is shown the UK was compliant or in surplus. Data by category are not available prior to 1998.
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 January — — — -16 — -12 -8 — — February — — — -10 — -11 -10 — — March — — — -8 -3 -7 -11 — — April -1 — — -4 -1 -5 -6 — -2 May — — -2 -2 -3 -5 -6 — — June -4 — — -2 — -12 -2 — -3 July — — — — — -11 — — — August — — — -2 -4 -9 -7 — — September — — -3 -6 -5 -11 — — — October — — -8 — — -4 -1 — — November -2 — -5 — — -1 — — — December — — -9 — -7 -5 — -4 —
The failure to meet that part of our obligations relating to Category 2 was caused by market changes, with small companies below the threshold for the obligation entering a supply chain previously dominated by oil companies. In 2003 and 2004 we agreed short-term additional obligations with the industry, which have ensured a surplus in most subsequent months. We also held a public consultation, and are working with industry on a new system, based on product from refineries or entering the UK as imports, capable of meeting the national obligation in the long term.