HC Deb 25 June 1993 vol 227 c294W
Mr. Duncan

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to lay an order to bring into force the Gas (Exempt Supplies) Act 1993; and if he will consider streamlining the handling of authorisations for the supply of propane and butane in the interim period.

Mr. Eggar

I expect to bring the Act into force by mid-1994. In the meantime when existing authorisations for the supply of propane and butane expire they will be extended by the Director General of Gas Supply. As regards new authorisations, applicants will simply have to demonstrate that they:

  1. (a) had given the appropriate notice under the Pipelines Act 1962;
  2. (b) had systems which had been installed/inspected by a company or individual belonging to the LP Gas Association or another properly qualified engineer;
  3. (c) operated, or planned to operate when supply commenced, either directly or via an agency agreement, an arrangement whereby immediate action to prevent reported gas escapes can be initiated by telephone on a 24 hour basis; and
  4. (d) had secured, or planned to secure when supply commenced, rights of entry to premises supplied in order to deal with gas escapes or other damages arising from the supply of gas to the premises.

I am reviewing the Gas (Authorisation Application) Regulations 1986 and will revise them as necessary to reflect the reduced information requirements in support of applications for LPG supply authorisations.