§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will state the trend of natural gas prices in the Community and the extent to which the market price has moved in the past 12 months.
§ Mr. StrangThe trend in natural gas prices to domestic consumers in certain of the countries of the European Economic Community is shown below:—
CHANGES IN REPRESENTATIVE PRICES OF NATURAL GAS TO DOMESTIC MARKET (Consumers of 20 G.Cal a year; approximately 800 therms) Index numbers June 1971 = 100 June 1971 June 1972 June 1973 January 1974 United Kingdom 100 105.5 105.5 113.7 France 100 109.0 112.8 112.8 Germany 100 111.3 111.3 115.5 Italy 100 100 106.6 106.6 Netherlands 100 100 101.6 111.2 Source:
Statistical Office of European Communities Yearbook of Energy Statistics.
British Gas Corporation.
Corresponding figures are not readily available for other member countries.
Prices in the United Kingdom have not risen since January 1974. I regret that I have no more up-to-date information for other countries shown above.
Similar figures are not available for industrial consumers due to variations in terms and conditions of supply and the existence of special contract rates, details of which are not made public.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will state the trend of liquid natural gas prices on the world market and the extent to which the market price has moved since September 1973.
§ Mr. StrangPrices for supplies of natural gas, whether or not in liquefied form, are normally matters of commercial negotiation, and up-to-date prices, and other conditions of contract, are not made public. Some information on natural gas prices on the international market can be found in the EEC publication "Medium-term prospects and guidelines in the Community gas sector", Brussels 1972,—Table 20 and accompanying text, pages 71–75.