INCREASE IN GAS PRICES

Motion Text

That this House is concerned by the rise in gas prices over recent months and the competitive disadvantage which is resulting for British businesses; is further concerned about the effect of such price rises are having on people who suffer from fuel poverty; understands that the cause of the rise in gas prices is largely due to international instability in the markets; notes that the United Kingdom's indigenous gas supplies are starting to diminish and that the UK will become a net importer of gas by 2006; believes that further upwards pressure on gas prices could occur because of the increasingly international nature of supplies; regrets that the European energy markets are not liberalised; calls upon the Government to explain where future gas supplies will come from after 2006; urges the Government to press for a greater degree of liberalisation in European markets; and further calls on the Government to take all necessary steps to secure sufficient gas supplies for the United Kingdom.