§ 16. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many representations he has received in the past month from organisations and individuals against the proposed gas price increases; and what reply he has sent.
§ 29. Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many letters he has received on the subject of the proposed increases in gas prices.
§ Mr. David HowellSince my statement about gas prices on 16 January I have 421W received over 2,000 letters on the subject. I will send the hon. Members a copy of one of my replies.
§ 27. Mr. Trippierasked the Secretary of State for Energy when next he will meet the chairman of the British Gas Corporation.
§ 35. Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Energy when next he expects to meet the chairman of the British Gas Corporation.
§ Mr. David HowellI am in regular contact with the chairman of the British Gas Corporation, but I have no present plans for a further meeting.
§ 31. Mr. James Lamondasked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations
FUEL COSTS Industrial Fuels Time Coal Gas Heavy Fuel Oil March/June 1979 … … … … 10.04 12.64 14.31 July/September 1979 … … … … 11.67 12.33 17.86
Pence/Therm Time Coal* 80 therms/An Domestic Fuels Gas† 400 therms/An 1,200 therms/An Domestic Heating Oil‡ (Gas Oil) 30 June 1979 … … 19.00 25.70 20.36 17.79 29.89 15 January 1980 … … 21.00 25.70 20.36 17.79 37.07 Source: Energy Trends. *Average retail domestic price throughout the country. †Typical prices for West Midlands Gas region ‡Typical prices in General Zones for deliveries of 500 gallons. The figures for industrial fuel costs for the second quarter of 1979 are based on information collected from a survey of some 800 large industrial consumers. The survey was increased to cover some 900consumers for the third quarter and consequently does not provide figures comparable with those for the second quarter. Fourth quarter figures and estimates of prices in June 1980 are not available.
Domestic fuel prices vary according to geographic location, quantities purchased and in the case of coal and heating oil individual merchants. The figures given for coal are based on the average retail domestic price of household coal throughout the country. The figures for gas and domestic heating oil are based on typical prices in the West Midlands gas region. Estimates of prices in June 1980 are not available.
422Whe has received from the Gas Consumers Council regarding the proposed increase in gas prices.
§ Mr. David HowellI expect to meet representatives of the National Gas Consumers' Council in the very near future. I understand that the council has already released the text of the letter that it sent to me on the subject of gas prices.
§ 33. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will compare the price per therm for (a) coal, (b) gas and (c) heating oil on (i) 30 June 1979, (ii) now and (iii) as expected on 30 June of the current year.
§ Mr. John MooreThe following tables show the price in pence per therm for coal, gas and heating oil in the industrial and domestic sectors.