§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria were used to decide whether to(a) purchase and (b) dispose of Northern Ireland Electricity lands at Camlough, Co.Armagh in relation to the aborted pump storage of electricity generation project. [157318]
§ Mr. PearsonThe lands were vested in the early 1970s to facilitate the intended development by the former Electricity Board for Northern Ireland of a pump storage electricity generation project. The compensation paid to the landowners was based on the assessed open market value of the lands at that time.
Since the project did not proceed, the lands are being disposed of by Northern Ireland Electricity plc in accordance with a Disposal Strategy drawn up by the company and approved by the then Electricity Regulator under the terms of a formal Consent in 1997. The lands have been offered back to their original owners or their successors in title at the prices originally paid.