Mr. O'NeillTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what safeguards will be put in place in respect of review and appeal procedures with regard to decisions made by the Director General of Ofgas in the granting of licences and operating mechanisms following enactment of the Gas Bill. [30074]
§ Mr. EggarThe Director General of Gas Supply has followed an open, pro-competitive and consultative approach in reaching regulatory decisions. In the light of her policy on this, and of the safeguards already in the Bill, we would not envisage a need for further statutory procedures to be imposed.
However, we are considering whether it is appropriate for the Bill to provide for an explicit reserve power which would enable the Secretary of State to prescribe procedures for consultation before taking decisions and the giving of reasons in writing afterwards, should the situation change.