HC Deb 04 November 1999 vol 337 c280W
35. Mr. Ennis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to secure the liberalisation of energy markets in the UK. [95859]

Mrs. Liddell

The Government are currently undertaking a major programme of liberalisation in the energy markets as outlined in the White Paper on energy sources for power generation (Cm 4071) in October 1998. This has included the opening up to competition of the UK gas supply market (completed in May 1998) and the UK electricity supply market (completed in May 1999). Work is also under way in my Department and in the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets to liberalise the gas and electricity wholesale trading arrangements and transmission capacity allocation.