§ 9. Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Power if he is aware that the undue claims being made about the potential production to be obtained from the natural gas in the North Sea are likely to result in gas being oversold; and, in view of the danger that this will cause to consumers at certain times of the year, if he will introduce legislation to limit the publicity given to such claims.
§ Mr. MarshNo, Sir. I have made it clear in the House and elsewhere that we do not yet know how much gas will be obtained from the North Sea. But this is 226 a matter of public interest, on which comment and speculation about what might be found is inevitable.
§ Mr. EadieIs not the Minister aware that the ballyhoo surrounding the finding of natural gas can lull the consumer into a false sense of security? Is he not also aware that the Chief Engineer of the Gas Board intimated last week that it will take from 7 to 10 years before natural gas can be used in this country? Is he not also aware that it costs between——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I think that that is enough to be aware of.
§ Mr. MarshI think that the position is fairly clear. The amount of North Sea gas already known to exist will be of very real value to the community here. Some of it will be available next year, but the sort of very large-scale supplies to which some people have referred are a matter of conjecture. At the moment, no one knows how much is there.
§ Mr. CarmichaelWill my right hon. Friend confirm that any North Sea gas brought ashore will be distributed through the grid of the Gas Council and the gas boards?
§ Mr. MarshThe whole question of use is something that will have to be considered in the light of greater knowledge of North Sea gas and the considerations that follow.