§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the percentage increase in the price of domestic heating oil over the past two years; what are the comparable figures for gas and electricity; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the availability of North Sea oil on stabilising the price of oil for domestic heating purposes.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonEstimates of the percentage increases from December 1974 to December 1976 are as follows:
Domestic heating oil … +60 per cent. Domestic gas … … +52 per cent. Domestic electricity … … +70 per cent. The price of North Sea oil is not controlled by the Government, whose intention remains that its price should be determined by international market forces. The availability of North Sea oil is not therefore expected to influence the price of any oil products on the home market.