Written question asked by Bill O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 23 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 May 2001. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Thursday, 3 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, If he will make a statement on recent trends in gas prices.

Answer: Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on recent trends in gas prices. [159076] Mr. Hain: The wholesale price of gas has followed the upward trend set in the spring of 2000 and is now trading at around 10p per therm more than a year ago. This has had a direct effect on prices to all classes of consumer. Centrica, the main domestic supplier, increased their retail price of gas by 4.7 per cent. on 1 April and other domestic suppliers have also raised prices. Industrial and commercial prices have risen on average by around 50 per cent. in the year to 1 March 2001. However they are still substantially lower than in other EU member states.

Secondary information