§ 8. Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what statutory provisions cover consultations between the gas industry and a developer prior to new house building developments.
§ Mr. MoynihanThere is no statutory requirement for consultation in the relevant gas or planning legislation.
§ Mr. SteenAs I understand it, the first that a gas company knows of a new housing development is when someone calls and asks to be connected. Does my hon. Friend agree that the right way to proceed is for the gas company to be consulted—just as the National Rivers Authority is consulted—before a new housing development takes place, so that the infrastructure can be in place before new housing is built?
§ Mr. MoynihanMy hon. Friend has been assiduous in pursuing this matter, not least with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy on 28 January. It is common practice for developers to consult British Gas before proceeding with their proposals to ensure the adequacy of supply and transmission lines, but we do not believe that it is necessary to superimpose a rigid statutory requirement on the process. My hon. Friend referred to the National Rivers Authority. The requirement for developers to undertake prior consultation with the NRA in certain cases applies only to developments where water contamination problems may occur. I am sure that my hon. Friend would agree that there is no close analogy with gas.