§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what research has been undertaken into the costs and benefits of the agreements reached with Electricité de France before, during and after the electricity privatisation process; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what plans he has to commission an independent inquiry into the benefits and cost to British consumers of the agreements which were reached with Electricité de France about payments made before, during and after the electricity privatisation process; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe Government's policy towards trade in electricity across the interconnector was set out in the coal review White Paper—Cm 2235. The commercial arrangements for trade across the interconnector are a matter for those electricity companies that have contracts with Electricité de France. It is for the Director General of Electricity Supply to satisfy himself as to the non-leviable status of electricity imports across the interconnector.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received752W concerning payments made to Electricité de France during the electricity privatisation process; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarI have received a number of representations about electricity trade across the interconnector. The background to the arrangements for this trade is set out in the coal review White Paper—Cm 2235—from paragraph 7.95.