Examination of Witnesses (Questions 740-742)
MR KEITH
MUNDAY, MR
PETER BENNELL
AND MR
GRAHAM PAUL
24 JUNE 2008
Q740 Mr Bailey: Picking up this issue
of transparency and accounting processes, I can well understand,
if you like, disaggregating the current system which is integrated
European accounting, but given what has been said earlier about
the fact that the `Big 6' may effectively just have a marketing
ploy over a short period of time, I am not quite sure how annual
accounts, even if they were made more transparent, could pick
that up. Is the real answer not preventing the suppliers from
having contracts with the transmitters, if you like, and being
forced to put all their production into an open market so that
you would have a really competitive and transparent system?
Mr Bennell: I agree with that
and a prohibition on self-supply.
Q741 Chairman: That would be a total
prohibition on self-supply?
Mr Bennell: I think that would
be the ideal outcome.
Mr Paul: It is a fairly radical—
Q742 Chairman: Of course the `Big
6' argue that their vertical integration gives them an ability
to protect their customers from volatility and changes so they
argue there that this self-supply business is beneficial for consumers;
you say the opposite?
Mr Bennell: I say the opposite.
Chairman: I think on that note, unless
there is anything else you want to say, you have made your major
points, or at least I hope you have. If you find there is something
you have not said you would like to have said, please drop us
a note. Thank you very much indeed for coming; we really appreciate
your time.
| 
