§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of (i) the proportion of the firm contract and tariff market over 2,500 therms which is currently supplied by independent shippers, (ii) the total cost savings made by industry as a result of switching to shippers of gas other than British Gas in each of the last three years for which figures are available and (iii) the average reduction in gas bills achieved by these concerns which have switched to a shipper other than British Gas.
§ Mr. EggarBy the end of 1992 OFGAS estimates that independent shippers had captured around 20 per cent. of the traditional contract market—above 25,000 therms.
The Department does not collect price information from independent shippers. However, the latest annual report of the Gas Consumers Council suggests that gas costs to all but the largest consumers have been falling, particularly since the opening to competition of the 432W 2,500–25,000 therm bracket last autumn. The latest estimate in July 1993 suggests a reduction of 10 per cent. in price to approximately 13 per cent. of the market in this bracket.