andMr. Manning asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism the percentage of petrol retail stations which are (a) owned by the multinational oil companies and (b) controlled through solus trade agreements by the multinational companies.
Written Answers. - Petrol Stations.
582.
According to the most recent returns made to the Examiner of Restrictive Practices, in 1982 the multinational oil companies owned 10.7 per cent of the total number of petrol retail stations.
Figures are not available on the number of solus agreements in existence but it is understood that a majority of private dealers now have solus agreements with one of the petrol companies. There is no indication as to the percentage of such stations which would be operated under solus agreements with multinational oil companies.