§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what conclusions the Government have reached on the proposal to construct a natural gas pipeline from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Government have reviewed the case for a natural gas pipeline from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. They have concluded that public expenditure in the region of £100 million at present-day prices to provide a pipeline and the ancillary works in Northern Ireland would not be justified in terms of additional security of energy supply, the price at which natural gas could be economically provided or the total number of consumers who might hope to benefit. This conclusion has been reached in the context of a wide-ranging review of energy policy for Northern Ireland. I have today placed in the Library a statement which sets out more fully the Government's approach to this problem and their proposals for action.