Gas Act 1995

Standards of quality E+W+S

12 For section 16 of the 1986 Act there shall be substituted the following section— E+W+S

“ Gas conveyed by public gas transporters and others E+W+S

16 Standards of quality.

(1) The Director—

(a) shall, after consultation with public gas transporters and with the consent of the Secretary of State, by regulations prescribe standards of pressure and purity to be complied with by public gas transporters in conveying gas to premises; and

(b) may, after such consultation and with such consent, so prescribe other standards with respect to the properties, condition and composition of gas so conveyed.

(2) The Director—

(a) shall, after consultation with such persons and organisations as he considers appropriate and with the consent of the Secretary of State, by regulations prescribe standards of pressure and purity to be complied with by persons in supplying to premises gas which is conveyed through pipes to the premises otherwise than by a public gas transporter or in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 2A to this Act; and

(b) may, after such consultation and with such consent, so prescribe other standards with respect to the properties, condition and composition of such gas so supplied.

(3) The Director shall appoint competent and impartial persons to carry out tests of—

(a) gas which is conveyed by a public gas transporter; and

(b) gas which is supplied by any person (a “relevant supplier”) to premises and is conveyed through pipes to the premises otherwise than by such a transporter or in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 2A to this Act,

for the purpose of ascertaining whether it conforms with the standards prescribed under this section.

(4) Regulations under this section may make provision—

(a) for requiring such tests to be carried out at such places as the Director may direct;

(b) for requiring such premises, apparatus and equipment as the Director may direct to be provided and maintained by public gas transporters and relevant suppliers for the purpose of carrying out such tests;

(c) for persons representing the public gas transporter or relevant supplier concerned to be present during the carrying out of such tests;

(d) for the manner in which the results of such tests are to be made available to the public; and

(e) for conferring powers of entry on property of public gas transporters and relevant suppliers for the purpose of deciding where tests are to be carried out and otherwise for the purposes of this section.

(5) There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament to persons appointed under subsection (3) above who are members of the Director’s staff such remuneration and such allowances as may be determined by the Director with the approval of the Treasury, and such pensions as may be so determined may be paid out of money provided by Parliament to or in respect of those persons.

(6) Every person who is a public gas transporter or relevant supplier during any period shall pay to the Director such proportion (if any) as the Director may determine of—

(a) any sums paid by him under subsection (5) above in respect of that period; and

(b) such part of his other expenses for that period as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine to be attributable to his functions in connection with the testing of gas for the purposes of this section;

and any liability under this subsection to pay to the Director sums on account of pensions (whether paid by him under subsection (5) above or otherwise) shall, if the Director so determines, be satisfied by way of contributions calculated, at such rate as may be determined by the Treasury, by reference to remuneration.

(7) Any sums received by the Director under this section shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.”