Winter gas supplies 'should meet demand'

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said there was a "possibility of a tight supply-demand balance" as gas and supplies from the UK continental shelf would only meet around three-quarters of demand on an "average" winter day.

Mr Darling said in a written statement that the remaining quarter would be made up from imports and stored gas and said storage levels were "healthy".

He said Met Office weather forecasts suggested "near average" winter temperatures but there could be colder weather later in the winter.

The Government was working closely with Ofgem, the National Grid and business to "ensure early action is taken to maximise gas and electricity supplies for the coming winter".

Mr Darling said a report by the National Grid "continues to indicate the possibility of a tight supply-demand balance for gas this winter. But it also makes clear that energy supply should meet daily demand under all likely weather-related scenarios."