§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Secretary of Slate for Energy if he has any information as to the manner by which gas supply industries in(a) Holland, (b) France, West Germany, (d) Italy, (e) Belgium, (f) Spain and (g) Luxembourg calculate the price to be charged for the supply of firm gas to large industrial users; and how British Gas calculates such a price.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonYes. I refer my hon. Friend to the chapter on pricing principles in the report "The EEC Industrial Gas Market" published by the Office of Gas Supply in January 1989. I shall arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what controls he has over the prices of gas charged by British Gas to large industrial consumers.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonNone. Under the proposed modification to British Gas's authorisation published on 30 January, the Director General of Gas Supply would have control over the structure of British Gas's price schedule for large industrial customers. The actual level of prices however would remain a matter for British Gas.