HC Deb 21 June 1990 vol 174 cc1103-4
5. Miss Hoey

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to provide mainland electricity supply for the island of Rathlin in County Antrim.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Richard Needham)

Northern Ireland Electricity is presently giving active consideration to the matter.

Miss Hoey

I am sure that the Minister will agree that the proud island community of Rathlin has made enormous efforts to preserve its way of life and survival on the island. Does he further agree that there has been much talk, consultation and surveying, but little action to bring mainland electricity supply to Rathlin? When will he recognise that the people of Rathlin island deserve the same amenities and services as those living in the United Kingdom?

Mr. Needham

I have some sympathy with what the hon. Lady says. There has been too much talk and too little action on the matter. NIE has appointed a project manager and within the next couple of months we shall have worked out the best way of getting electricity to the island. We must also consider the capital cost and who will pay for it. We shall try to find ways of spreading the cost as widely as possible to prevent the islanders bearing too large a proportion of it and without making it uneconomic. I am determined to do everything that I can to bring the matter to a conclusion.

Rev. Ian Paisley

Is the Minister aware that there were 1,000 people in Rathlin at the turn of the century but that there are now only 100? Is it his policy to keep people on the island of Rathlin? If so, will he stop setting up projects and take action so that they can have the facilities that they deserve, in the same way as any other part of Northern Ireland?

Mr. Needham

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his constituency interest in the matter. As I told the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Miss Hoey), of course I want to keep people on the island and to enable them to enjoy the quality of life that is available throughout the rest of Northern Ireland. That is what I am trying to achieve.

Back to