asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he is aware of the special hardship on old people which is being imposed by the Government's recent decision to reduce the subsidy on town gas; and if he will take steps to have the decision reconsidered by the Government.

With the reduction of 4.5p per therm for town gas the subsidy will still be of the order of 17 to 20p per therm. This is a considerable contribution to fuel costs and I am satisfied that the modest increase in costs following on the reduction in subsidy will not cause special hardship on old people.

Would the Minister answer the question again? I am afraid I have not heard it.

It is not fair to ask that a question be repeated when there is disorder in the House.

I find that the speed at which the Minister speaks makes it impossible to hear what he is saying.

Will the Minister agree that the reduction of the subsidy will cause a lot of hardship to poor people? In view of the abundance of money made available in the budget for the abolition of road tax will the Minister do something special for the poor people of the city?

It has been calculated that for an average householder using gas for cooking the increase brought about by the reduced subsidy would be about 18 pence per week and to an old age pensioner it is estimated that the average cost would be about 7 pence per week.

Does the Minister think it appropriate to further penalise old and poor people when the wealth tax has been abolished?

That has nothing to do with the question. Question No. 21.