§ 11. Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now give the go-ahead to phase II of the development of the Kilroot power station; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersI announced on 15 July that the Government had decided to meet the need for new generating capacity in Northern Ireland, which will occur in the mid-1990s, by installing the third and fourth generating sets in the Kilroot power station as dual coal-oil fired units. On the same day I announced plans to examine ways of privatising the entire Northern Ireland electricity system.
§ Mr. MealeWill the Minister explain what effect that will have on the projected time scale for lignite exploitation and on the proposed building of a lignite power station?
§ Mr. ViggersAfter the completion of the Kilroot power station, the next generating station will probably be 538 lignite-powered. The lignite resources in Northern Ireland remain available for development for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland. On this occasion it was more advantageous from the national point of view, and for all concerned, that the Kilroot power station should be completed.