Memorandum submitted by Thomas Palmer,
Petrol Retailer
SUBJECT: THE ILLEGAL SALES OF FUEL OILS IN
NORTHERN IRELAND
There are two aspects of this subject, which
I feel require some elaboration, namely:
1. Illegal sales to non-retail outlets, e.g.,
road hauliers, taxi companies, coach companies, distribution companies,
etc.
2. Illegal sales by fuel retailers, licensed
and unlicensed, to the general public.
Gordon Brown has stated that the aim of government
policy in relation to fuels is to protect the environment and
reduce pollution. He will not achieve this by excise duty manipulation
in isolation: just as petrol storage is currently under licensing
requirements, so should diesel, red diesel and kerosene. I enclose
for your examination the following documents:[2]
(a) Copy of petrol licence for own site.
(b) Copy of electrical certificate in support
of application for petrol licence, duly certified by a member
of the NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation
Contracting).
(c) Copy of regulations governing the storage
of petrol as issued by Lisburn Borough Council.
As you are aware, the main thrust of the PRA
(Petrol Retailers Association) argument in proposing a solution
to the problem of illegal fuel sales in Northern Ireland is to
have price equalisation on both sides of the border. This is absolutely
essential, irrespective of the method which is deemed best to
achieve it. However, even with price equalisation, there will
remain the twin problems:
(1) fuel quality, i.e., where dyed fuel has
been "washed" in cat litter or acid and then passed
off as legitimate road fuel;
(2) environmental pollution and damage. This
is caused by unregulated fuel retailers and non-retail bulk users
of fuel with their own fuel installations.
To combat this I would propose:
(a) the licencing of all premises which have
fuel tanks and fuel pumps, whether for retail or own personal
use, irrespective of the type of fuel, i.e., diesel, kerosene,
petrol or red diesel. This would entail an annual site visit by
an inspector, similar to that currently conducted for petrol storage;
(b) an annual fuel quality test encompassing
all the fuel tanks at each premise. Where the fuel is found not
to be of merchantable quality, the owner of the premises should
be legally required to divulge the name of his fuel supplier or
face substantial penalties. Habitual offenders should be subjected
to frequent irregular spot checks, and their premises closed and
their equipment confiscated in the most serious cases.
13 January 1999
2 Not printed. Back
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