§ 29. Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to ensure greater transparency of energy prices throughout the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. MellorThe United Kingdom has consistently pressed for transparency of energy prices throughout the European Community. In December, under the United Kingdom's chairmanship, the Council adopted important conclusions on pricing, including a reaffirmation that transparency is a necessary and urgent condition for the implementation of agreed principles on economic energy pricing. Action to increase transparency will be further considered by the Energy Council planned for 16 March.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will tabulate in the Official Report, from information available to him, the current average price of gas per therm, and electricity per unit, in the United Kingdom and each EEC country at the present time for industry and the domestic user, respectively, indicating where possible known trends from announced increases over the next 12 months.
§ Mr. MellorThe latest information available to me on gas and electricity prices to domestic and industrial consumers in EEC countries is given as follows. The information is derived from four separate enquiries carried out on different dates.
In making international comparisons it must be borne in mind that difficulties can arise in times of changing prices and exchange rate fluctuations. There can, moreover, be a wide range of prices within countries and differences in the method of collecting the data may not always provide comparable figures.
With regard to future price trends in EEC countries, I refer my hon. friend to the reply I gave to this oral question earlier today.
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European Gas Prices Domestic* 400 therms/annum Pence/therm Industrial† 1–10 million therms/annum (firm supplies) Belgium 51.5 28.4–31.2 Denmark 79.7‡ N/A F. R. Germany 50.2 28.8–33.7/42.2** France 65.3 26.7–30.5 Greece N/A N/A Italy 32.8 28.0–29.6 Ireland N/A N/A Luxembourg N/A N/A Netherlands 30.4 26.4–27.8 United Kingdom 31.6 29.3 * Source: Informal survey conducted among gas undertaking in certain European cities and relates to tariffs in force on 1 July 81. Prices are inclusive of taxes and VAT. Prices quoted relate to Brussels, Copenhagen, Paris, Dusseldorf, Turin, Amsterdam and Manchester. † Source: Report of the NEDC Energy Task Force (November 1981). Prices relate to 1 October 1981. ‡ Price relates to Town gas supplies. ** 42.2 p/therm applies where the alternative fuel is Gas Oil.
European Electricity Prices Domestic* 3300 Kwh/annum Pence/Kwh Industria† 2500Kw at 40 per cent. load factor Belgium 6.76 4.10 Denmark 5.57–5.77 N/A F. R. Germany 4.81–5.60 3.44–4.17 France 4.98–5.43 2.74 Greece 4.77 N/A Italy 5.78–5.81 3.50 Ireland 5.48–5.73 N/A Luxembourg 4.15 N/A Netherlands 4.52–6.50 4.31 United Kingdom 4.67–6.16 3.52 * Source: Electricity Council Enquiry based on tariffs in force on 1 August 1981. Prices are inclusive of taxes and VAT. †Source: Electricity Council informal survey based on tariffs in force on 31 December 1981. Prices are inclusive of all taxes except VAT.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Energy when the energy Ministers of EEC countries plan to meet next; and if he will take steps to review current and forecasted energy prices for industry and the consumer with a view to establishing how British prices compare with those available to users in other EEC countries.
§ Mr. MellorThe Council of Energy Ministers of the European Communities will next meet on 16 March. We will be further considering the action to increase transparency of energy prices throughout the EC following the important conclusions on pricing adopted by the Council in December 1981.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to protect non-domestic high energy users particularly in the steel, ceramics, refractory and chemical industries from the recently announced increases in gas and electricity prices.
§ Mr. John MooreThe Government are fully aware of the problems facing large energy intensive industries and we are keeping their position under urgent review.