§ 20. Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on providing an electricity interconnector between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom mainland. [16379]
§ Mr. AncramProgress on the interconnector proposal depends on the promoters receiving planning approval. Northern Ireland Electricity plc intends to submit a second planning application in respect of the Northern Ireland element, possibly in late February or early March 1997.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has announced that he is minded to grant planning permission for the Scottish element of the project, subject to sections of the proposed overhead line being placed underground. Comments submitted by interested parties are being considered and a final decision will be made in due course.
§ 29. Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the interconnector with Scotland on the electricity needs of the Province during the next decade. [16388]
§ Mr. AncramNone. This is a matter for Northern Ireland Electricity plc, a private company, which has the obligation under its licence to arrange for Northern Ireland's electricity requirements to be met economically. The company is supervised in the discharge of this responsibility by the independent Director General of Electricity Supply. I am informed that, under the terms of the agreement entered into between Northern Ireland Electricity plc and Scottish Power plc, approximately 20 per cent. of the demand on the Northern Ireland electricity system could be met by the Interconnector, when fully operational.
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