§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what changes he proposes to make to the gas levy and to the British Gas Corporation's external financing limit in respect of the freeze on industrial gas prices announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget.
§ Mr. LawsonI intend to lay before the House shortly an order under the Gas Levy Act 1981 to reduce the rate of the levy by 1p per therm in 1982–83. This reduction will compensate the British Gas Corporation for the effect on464W its profits of both the freeze on industrial contract prices announced on 9 March, and the similar freeze announced in last year's Budget. The corporation's external financing limit for 1982–83 is being reduced by £73 million to minus £75 million to allow for the adjustment in respect of the earlier freeze.