§ Mr. Chris DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in for public inquiry the application by Interconnector for construction of a gas pipeline from Zeebrugge to Bacton, Norfolk. [3524]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordNo. The Secretary of State for the Environment has no statutory powers to call in proposals for submarine pipelines. Submarine pipelines, from low water mark to the median line, are authorised by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the provisions of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975. The section of pipeline from low water mark to the proposed Interconnector (UK) Ltd. facility at Bacton is currently the subject of planning applications before North Norfolk district council. Consideration has been given to call in that application, and one for the related gas processing facility, but it was considered that no more than local issues were involved and North Norfolk district council was best placed to determine the applications accordingly.