§ Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of Stale for Energy if he will express the average price per therm for gas delivered in the London area for the average gas consumer as a percentage of the average gas oil price for an equivalent average gas oil consumer; and if he will detail the price per therm of gas assuming that the gas price was 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 and 95 per cent. of the gas oil price.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 6 March 1980, c. 324–5]: Consumption levels of an "average" gas consumer and an equivalent "average" gas oil consumer are not readily available. Using typical consumption levels, the price of 519W gas in the North Thames Gas area for an annual consumption of 800 therms per annum is currently 53 per cent. of a typical gas oil price for a delivery load of 2,275 litres (approx. 820 therms).
The information sought in the second part of the question is presented in the following table.
HYPOTHETICAL GAS PRICE AS PERCENTAGE OF GAS OIL PRICE Per cent. Of Gas Oil Price Hypothetical Gas Price (pence per Price therm) 40 14.80 45 16.65 50 18.50 55 20.35 60 22.20 65 24.05 70 25.90 75 27.75 80 29.60 85 31.45 90 33.30 95 35.15