§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what action he proposes to take about the price of gas oil for central heating which has increased from about lop a gallon to 20p within less than a year:
2W(2) whether he proposes to take steps to freeze the price of gas oil and certain other petroleum products, as has been done in the Netherlands.
§ Mr. StrangThe price of landed crude oil has more than trebled over the past 12 months. Consequent increases in the overall price of oil products, including gas oil, were subject to the approval of the Price Commission. We have, in addition, control over maximum retail prices for petrol, derv and paraffin in the United Kingdom, but I do not think there is a case at present to extend this control to other oil products.