- Title: Dispatches: Who Pays The Gas Bill
- Date: 17th May 1995
- Summary: In March this year the Gas Bill was introduced in the House of Commons which would open up the market to idependent suppliers. British Gas would no longer have the monopoly on the supply of gas to the domestic market. This resulted in much activity by potential suppliers. The practice of lobbying MPs to represent their interests is well established and many MPs are on the payroll of specific companies in order to put their case when required. Lobby groups exert great influence and lobbying is a big business. Companies have been set up to supply professional lobbyists. The case of Jerry Wiggin which has made headlines in the past days (largely due to DISPATCES disclosures) has caused disquiet in Parliament. He put down an amendment to the Gas Bill not in his own name but that of Sebastian Coe MP without his knowledge. The question put by the programme is who is running the government - a democratically elected chamber or big business via behind-the-scenes influence.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:Unspecified
- Programme Episode:Episode 1
- Transmission Date:17/05/1995
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 1990s