§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of financial support for the gas industry during each of the past four years; and what is the projected support for 1981–82.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerDeficit support funding has been made available to gas undertakings in Northern Ireland since 1976–77. The amounts which have been provided are:
Losses incurred in Total provided £ 1976–77 793,000 1977–78 2,354,000 1978–79 5,189,000 1979–80 9,539,000 1980–81 *10,553,000 * (Provisional) Losses by gas undertakings in 1981–82 are expected to be of the order of £11 million.