OSLO, July 20 (Reuters) - Norway's competition watchdog willlook into whether competition rules are being infringed in thecountry's oil industry, the industry ministry said on Wednesday.
The ministry has asked the competition authority to providea "general description" of competitive conditions for oilcompanies and their suppliers to answer a question from a memberof parliament, it said.
The question from the lawmaker is whether oil firm Statoil, which is responsible for 60 percent of Norway's oiland gas output, misuses its dominant position over suppliers,the ministry said.
"It is natural to prepare a political discussion aboutcompetition conditions on the Norwegian continental shelf on agood factual basis, both on the competition situation andwhether us politicians can, or should, do something about it,"Industry Minister Monica Maeland said in a statement.
The statement did not say how long this would take.
Statoil was not available for immediate comment.
Last month, BP and independent oil firm Det norske agreed to merge their Norwegian business in a $1.3billion all-share deal, partly to counter Statoil's dominantposition in the sector. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Mark Potter)