HC Deb 07 November 1967 vol 753 cc816-7
15. Mr. Judd

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement on the achievements of the gas industry under nationalisation.

Mr. Marsh

These are obvious to all and my hon. Friend will have seen the area boards' and the Gas Council's annual reports which are presented to Parliament.

Mr. Judd

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in the autumn edition of "Flame", the house magazine of the Southern Gas Board, the retiring chairman, while still chairman, made a totally unwarranted attack on the record and value of the nationalised gas industry? In the interests of staff morale and public confidence, will the Minister refute this in the clearest possible terms?

Mr. Marsh

The remarks made by Mr. Welman after he had retired were unfortunate in the extreme. One would have thought that a man at the head of an industry who felt so strongly about a nationalised industry would have got out of it.

16. Mr. Judd

asked the Minister of Power whether he is satisfied that the gas industry has the necessary resources to provide uninterrupted supplies of gas during the coming winter; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Marsh

Plant capacity should be quite adequate to meet demand and oil feedstock supplies have improved considerably, though still not yet back to normal.

Mr. Judd

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a fairly widespread feeling in southern England that the reason for the resignation of the chairman of Southern Gas was a shortage of resources? Could the Minister reassure the people of southern England, in the interests of staff morale and public confidence?

Mr. Marsh

There were discussions between the Southern Gas Board and myself on a number of issues. It was not a question of plant capacity. The Southern Gas Board should have a margin of plant capacity of over 12 per cent. in winter conditions such as might occur in one winter in 20.