HC Deb 04 April 1967 vol 744 cc15-6
Mr. Speaker

Question No. 20—Mr. Hamilton, whom we are glad to see back in the House.

20. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of Power when he expects to reach a decision on the price to be paid for North Sea gas.

Mr. Marsh

Discussions are still continuing.

Mr. Hamilton

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that before any decision is reached his Ministry and the Gas Council will demand full access to the costs of the exploring companies?

Mr. Marsh

The difficulty is that the costs have not been incurred. All that one can get access to—and the Ministry is quite satisfied with the information which it has—are estimates and the information which enables technicians to produce estimates. We cannot find the costs before the activities have taken place.

Mr. Lubbock

Can the Minister say how long these discussions have been going on and whether he thinks that it will be necessary for him to intervene to obtain an agreement between the Gas Council and the oil companies?

Mr. Marsh

I do not know. I should have thought that they could probably reach agreement between themselves. This matter has taken a long time, but it has taken less than comparable negotiations in some other countries. But a more important thing than to get the decision quickly is to get the right decision.