DOMESTIC LPG SUPPLY AND PRICES

Early day motion 917, tabled 28 February 2002 by Roger Williams (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 141 members.

That this House notes that the retail prices charged to domestic LPG consumers stands at near record levels while crude oil prices have fallen over the past 12 months and that high LPG prices prevent the consumers benefiting from the Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy and discriminate against the elderly who make most use of this energy source; further notes that domestic LPG consumers are prevented from accessing alternative suppliers by the cost of changing connection fittings on appliances, and that this and the dominance of individual suppliers in local markets, especially in rural areas, prevents the market in LPG from operating in a properly competitive manner; and calls on the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission to instigate a formal inquiry into the operation of the domestic LPG industry in the United Kingdom.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Conservative 42, Liberal Democrat 33, Labour/Co-operative 8, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2.