§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the number of domestic consumers exclusively dependent on either electricity or coal for home heating, where conversion to natural gas would involve major capital expenditure.
§ Dr. John CunninghamIt is not possible to answer the Question in the precise terms requested, but it is estimated that out of a total of over 19 million households in Great Britain, some 2 million are outside a gas supply area and have neither oil-fired central heating nor make some use of paraffin or bottled gas heaters. In these areas the BGC does not consider it economic to provide a supply. In addition, there are thought to be about 2 million households within gas supply areas which do not use gas or oil heating, but which could be supplied with gas at varying costs depending on the economic, geographical and safety factors involved. In most cases there will, of course, also be some expenditure on heating equipment within the dwelling.