Written question asked by Brian Iddon (Labour) on Thursday, 2 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 December 2004. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 13 December 2004 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, whether she has held discussions with representatives of industry about the October price spike in forward wholesale gas prices; if she will assess price trends in the market since liberalisation; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she has held discussions with representatives of industry about the October price spike in forward wholesale gas prices; if she will assess price trends in the market since liberalisation; and if she will make a statement. [203107] Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have had meetings with two major chemical companies on this issue and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives on the Energy Intensive Users Group on 9 December. Officials are having on-going discussions with industry representatives to share information and assessments, and to hear their proposals for what might be done. Gas prices are continuously monitored by Ofgem and my Department, and my Department publishes regular updates in the Quarterly Energy Prices Publication. Over the long run our policies of market liberalisation and non-intervention have delivered low gas prices and increased choice for domestic and industrial consumers, and even now domestic prices are only just returning to the levels they were at in 1997, and industrial gas prices are still likely to be below the average over the last 30 years.

Secondary information