§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the amount of the Northern Ireland regional rate which is allocated to water services and to sewage treatment and disposal.
§ Mr. MasonBecause the product of the regional rate is paid, with all other revenue, into the Northern Ireland consolidated Fund, and the expenditure of Northern Ireland Departments, including that on water services, sewage treatment and disposal, is met from the fund, it is not possible to make any allocation 493W in the manenr suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the amounts of money due to the various gas undertakings in Northern Ireland in respect of the year ended 31st March 1976 because of their compliance with the national policy of price limitation.
§ Mr. ConcannonThese figures will appear in subordinate legislation which will be made as soon as possible after the draft Electricity and Gas Undertakings (Financial Provisions) (NI) Order 1977 has been presented to Parliament.
§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further assistance he intends to offer the Northern Ireland gas industry to help it recoup its outstanding consumer debts.
§ Mr. ConcannonI am fully alive to the problem which the Northern Ireland gas industry faces in this respect and I am considering what steps might appropriately be taken to assist it to tackle it more effectively.