§ 10. Mr. Danceasked the Minister of Power how much has been spent during the past 12 months on advertising high-speed gas.
§ Mr. FreesonTotal expenditure by the gas industry on advertising, whether on high speed gas as such or other activities and services, in the twelve months ending 30th June, 1967, was £2.8 million. This is the latest figure available.
§ Mr. DanceYes, but does not the Minister really appreciate the fact that there is virtually only one main competitor with the gas boards, namely, another nationalised board, the Central Electricity Generating Board, and does he not think that this money would be better spent in reducing the prices of gas to the consumer?
§ Mr. FreesonI think there are two points here which are inaccurate. First of all, it is not true that the gas industry has only one competitor, the electricity industry—
§ Mr. FreesonNor is it the main one. There is a whole range of other expenditures in which people might engage.
The second point is that the present expenditure of the industry on advertising is not much more than 0.5 per cent. of turnover, which compares favourably, and more than favourably, with private industry.