§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to give the British Gas Corporation a direction under section 7 of the Gas Act 1972 to sell its interests in oil fields in the North Sea; and whether he proposes that the British National Oil Corporation should acquire them on compensation payable to the British Gas Corporation analogous to section 13 of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-Lines Act 1975.
§ Mr. GrayI announced on 19 October that the Government would be seeking new powers to privatise the 183W British Gas Corporation's substantial offshore oil business. The Bill incorporating these powers was published on Thursday 17 December.