WINTER GAS PRICES AND SECURITY OF SUPPLY

Early day motion 1348, tabled 11 January 2006 by John Grogan (Labour). Signed by 86 members.

That this House notes with great concern the sustained rise in the wholesale price of gas since October 2003, culminating in the spot price for wholesale gas peaking around £1.70 a therm in November 2005, more than 10 times the price on 1st October 2003; recognises the severe impact this increase is having on many industrial and commercial users; expresses concern that the supply of gas into the UK through the gas supply Interconnector between Bacton in East Anglia and Zeebrugge in Belgium has been operating recently at only 60 to 75 per cent. of capacity despite domestic gas prices reaching record levels; views with extreme alarm continuing allegations of the restriction of supply through the Interconnector by companies who both own, operate and supply gas through the Interconnector; urges the Government to adopt a robust approach in order to ensure that measures to liberalise the European gas market as contained in directive 2003/55/EC are implemented for future winters; welcomes the announcement by the Chancellor in his Pre-Budget Report that gas importers either use or lose their capacity to import gas; offers full support to the request made to the European Commission by Ofgem for an urgent investigation to make sure there are no blockages to the full use of the Interconnector; and calls on the Government and Ofgem to take steps to ensure the fullest deliveries possible of gas to the UK this winter and to make all interventions necessary to ensure the operation of a fully functioning market and gas supply to the UK.

Signatures by party: Labour 54, Liberal Democrat 17, DUP 5, Conservative 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1, UUP 1.