§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will provide a breakdown of how the rebate of £45 million resulting from the deregulation of the electricity industry in Northern Ireland has been spent. [19513]
§ Mr. IngramThe Government announced on 25 November 1997 that £5 million of the remaining £45 million Government support for electricity consumers was to be allocated to an expansion of the Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme. The annual target number of homes of the elderly and low income families to be insulated and/or draughtproofed under the Scheme is to be increased from 14,000 to 20,000, creating an estimated 40 new jobs in the process. Consideration is being given as to how best the remaining £40 million might be spent on measures to help electricity consumers in Northern Ireland. I hope to make an announcement in the near future.