§ 13. Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to impose on the Gas Corporation an absolute liability in respect of natural gas explosions causing death or injury to persons and damage to property.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI have no present plans to do so.
§ Mr. PalmerHas the hon. Gentleman studied the recent report of the British Safety Council on gas explosions which is highly critical of the somewhat careless way in which the Gas Corporation goes about its business? The report is also critical of the way in which the Gas Corporation treats those who are the unfortunate victims of these explosions. Does the hon. Gentleman think that imposing an absolute liability on the Corporation is a necessary discipline?
§ Mr. LamontI am aware of the report of the British Safety Council and I am bound to say that it contains a number of factual errors and misleading statements. It fails to mention a number of relevant factors including the fact that gas engineers from the Department already carry out independent investigations into gas explosions where they consider that desirable. I should also point out that about two-thirds of all gas explosions occur on the customer side of the meter and two-thirds of that number are the result of deliberate malpractice. It is, therefore, difficult to impose an absolute liability on the Gas Corporation. I can see no reason why a liability should be imposed on the corporation which is different to the liability imposed on other industries.