POOR people are likely to be worse off with the advent of competition

into the gas industry, it was alleged yesterday.

The claim by the director of the industry watchdog, the Gas Consumers'

Council, came after Energy Minister Tim Eggar predicted that gas prices

would fall across the board.

Competition being brought in over the next few years with the ending

of British Gas's monopoly would would mean ''very considerable

benefits'' for consumers, said Mr Eggar.

He welcomed the opening of the market when he introduced a ''road

map'' for the introduction of competition into the domestic market.

The document, drawn up in consultation with industry watchdog Ofgas,

detailed the workings of the new system and how new independent

suppliers would be regulated.

The Labour Party said the document contained bad news for consumers

and claimed its publication had been delayed until after last week's

local government elections.

But Mr Eggar said competition would be good news for users and the

timing of the document's publication was ''purely coincidental.''