Glass for gas discharge tubes, which are used in fluorescent lamps, especially EEFL and miniaturized lamps, LCD displays, computer monitors, telephone displays and TFT displays, and a process for making it are described. The glass contains, in % by weight based on oxide content: SiO2, 60-85; B2O3, 0-10; Al2O3, 0-10; Li2O, 0-10; Na2O, 0-20; K2O, 0-20; MgO, 0-8; CaO, 0-20; SrO, 0-5; BaO, 0-5; ZnO, 0-8; ZrO2, 0-5; TiO2, 0-10; Fe2O3, 0-5; CeO2 0-5; MnO2, 0-5; Nd2O3, 0-1.0; WO3, 0-2; Bi2O3, 0-5; MoO3, 0-5; PbO, 0-5; As2O3, 0-1; Sb2O3, 0-1; SO42−, 0-2; Cl−, 0-2 and F−, 0-2, wherein Σ Li2O+Na2O+K2O=5-25% by weight; Σ MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO=3-20; Σ Fe2O3+CeO2+TiO2+PbO+As2O3+Sb2O3 is at least 0-10; and Σ PdO+PtO3+PtO2+PtO+RhO2+Rh2O3+IrO2+Ir2O3 is 0.1.