§ Mr. Alan Williams (Swansea, West)On a completely separate point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask whether you have received a request from the Secretary of State for Energy about making a statement to the House on British Gas? If not, as I assume is the case, may I draw your attention to the penultimate page of the Official Report for 18 June? It contains an 80-line written answer from the Secretary of State for Energy dealing with issues such as the debt and equity position of British Gas and the debt element in its balance sheet, the future of the gas levy when British Gas has been privatised, the price regulatory formula that will be the only defence for the consumer against this private monopoly, and its intentions regarding the holding of shares by British Gas employees. I am sure that you will agree that all these matters merit discussion and questions in the House.
As for the price formula, the Secretary of State said that it was only after careful examination that he had arrived at this particular regulatory formula. As we were unable to debate these matters during proceedings on the Bill, it seems appropriate that, at the very least, we should have an opportunity to question the Secretary of State, now that he has made up his mind. If the Secretary of State has not said that he wishes to make a statement to the House, may I, through you, Mr. Speaker, ask the Leader of the House to ensure that a statement is made as quickly as possible about British Gas?
§ The Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Biffen)We could look at that matter through the usual channels.