asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the price of gas used for horticulture production in pence per therm in the United Kingdom; and what is the price in the Netherlands, using average contract prices.

Relatively little gas is used for horticulture production in Great Britain and is sold on the non-domestic tariff at a commodity rate of 26·1p per therm as at 1 April 1980 for consumption up to 100,000 therms per annum and, for higher consumption, on special contract terms, negotiated at a price related to that of the competing oil product.I understand that in the Netherlands, where gas is the major fuel used for horticulture production, a federation of market gardeners negotiates a price with Gasunie for horticulture producers which in January 1980 was about 18 cents. per cubic metre, equivalent to 11p/therm at current exchange rates, which is only a fraction of the equivalent oil price.