§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 January concerning supply of spare parts for domestic gas appliances, what assessment he has made, and by what means, of the consequences of his plans for the dis-aggregation of British Gas on the current availability of spare parts for licensed appliances and on the time such appliances cannot be used by consumers for reasons of public safety.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe servicing of domestic gas appliances is a competitive market, in which British Gas service business competes with some 48,000 registered engineers. This part of British Gas operations is therefore not subject to economic regulation and it is for the management of British Gas to choose the most economical and effective means for the supply and distribution of spare parts in order to meet customers' needs.