§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Energy on what basis his Department calculates that the cost of gas for fuel usually accounts for only a few per cent. or less of the average company's total costs.
§ Mr. David HowellInformation from the published 1974 purchases inquiry reports can be used as a basic source for such calculations suitably updated in various ways for changes since that time in prices, overall fuel consumption, output levels and so on. This can be linked with the quarterly fuel purchases inquiry results which can provide figures for gas consumption as a proportion of all fuel used.
It should be appreciated that individual company figures will vary considerably about an average.