§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost of cooking gas per ton, up to the end of October 1973; what it is from March 1974; and what the increase, if any, represents in cash terms, and as a percentage.
§ Mr. VarleyThe price of gas to a domestic consumer varies regionally and according to the quantity used. A consumer using only 80 therms a year—a representative figure for cooker consumption only—would have paid between about 14 and 25p a therm in October 1973 and would now pay between about 15 and 27p a therm. In the North Western Region of the British Gas Corporation, the corresponding figures would have been about 18p a therm in October 1973 and about 19½p a therm now. All gas tariffs increased by 7½ per cent. as from 1st January 1974.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, following his Department's sponsorship of the recent Oil North Exhibition in Northern England, he will propose holding similar ventures in Scotland to assist Scottish industry to reap the industrial benefits of Scotland's oil.
§ Mr. Strang,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th April 1974; Vol. 872, c. 10], gave the following information:
My right hon. Friend welcomes every opportunity to publicise to the oil operators the wide range of products which Scottish industry can supply and to Scottish industry the vast opportunities that exist in the offshore oil industry. To that end my Department is supporting the exhibition to be held at Hillington Estate in September 1974 and the Offshore Europe Exhibition to be held in Aberdeen in September 1975.