§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what alternative methods to a gas pipeline for the provision of energy to 562W Northern Ireland have been proposed to his Department; what alternative methods his Department is considering; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawOther proposals which have been made recently are for the tidal generation of electricity from Strangford Lough and for interconnection of the Northern Ireland and Great Britain electricity systems. The first of these is now being studied by the Northern Ireland economic council with the encouragement of the Department of Commerce. The second has been examined on a number of occasions in the past and is being looked at again as part of the wider review of the electricity industry in Northern Ireland now under way.