§ 14. Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for the introduction of private capital into the operations of the British Gas Corporation.
§ Mr. Norman LamontMy right hon. Friend has no plans at present to introduce private capital into the British Gas Corporation.
§ Mr. EggarI am sure that many Government supporters are extremely disappointed with that statement. Would not the efficiency to the BGC and the benefit of the country be increased considerably if, at the very miniumum, the showrooms were disposed of, if the monopsony power of the corporation were removed and if BGC's oil interests were sold off?
§ Mr. LamontI note what my hon. Friend said. On the question of the showrooms, I do not think that I can add to what I said earlier. This matter is under consideration, and consultations are under way. As regards the future of the corporation's oil assets, including Wytch Farm, that, too, is under consideration. My hon. Friend has asked me on several occasions whether we could allow competition in gas supplies to producers in the North Sea. As my hon. Friend knows, there are many arguments in favour of that, and that, too, is a matter that we are considering.