§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much surplus electricity generating capacity there is in Northern Ireland; and what is considered to be the appropriate operating norm.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Northern Ireland electricity generating system has at present a total capacity of 1,845 MW which, when allowance is made for plant failure, repairs and maintenance, is capable of meeting peak loads of 1,390 MW entailing a risk of failure to meet peak loads of once in four years. Average cold spell peaks are 1,260 MW.
Given the small scale of Northern Ireland's generating system and the proportions represented by individual increments of plant I regret that it is not possible to give an answer to the second question.