§ Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the impact on United Kingdom manufacturing industry of the decrease in industrial gas prices in France, Holland, West Germany and Italy between October 1985 and July 1986; what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the United Kingdom industry is able to compete against a background of decreasing prices of industrial gas in other European countries; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe rapid fall in oil prices has led to decreases in gas prices in the United Kingdom as well as in Europe. Since July 1986 oil prices have risen and some gas prices will follow. Industry's concern must be the continuing level of its energy costs; United Kingdom gas costs have been and remain within the overall range of those in other European countries.
§ Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish in the Official Report in tabulated form information available to him on the price in pence per therm of industrial gas for each of the last eight quarterly periods for which records are available for each of the following countries (a) United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Holland, (d) West Germany and (e) Italy; what assessment he has made of the impact of falling oil prices on the price of industrial gas in each of these countries; what as a percentage, is the change in prices of industrial gas in each of these countries; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithAlthough my Department uses a variety of sources to assess the general level of prices in other countries, official figures broken down by the quarters are not available. However, prior to the fall in oil prices United Kingdom industrial gas prices were towards the bottom of the range for Europe as a whole. Some European prices, notably in Italy and Holland, are more closely tied to oil prices than others and fell sharply. But they can be expected to follow the recent increased oil prices. Meanwhile United Kingdom prices, which have themselves fallen, remain within the overall range of European prices.