§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total amount of financial support for the electricity industry during each of the past four years; and what is the projected support for 1981–82.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerGrants paid to date to the Northern Ireland Electricity Service for the purpose of assisting it to keep down its charges to consumers in each of the four years 1977–78 to 1980–81 were as follows:
147WIn addition, in 1977–78 NIES received a grant of £26.3 million to meet its accrued revenue deficits for 1975–76 and 1976–77 and the liability of NIES to the Northern Ireland Government Loans Fund was reduced by £250 million.
In relation to the estimated cost of tariff support in 1981–82 I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison).