§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the amount of the Government's annual subsidy to (a) the gas industry, (b) the electricity industry and (c) the coal industry in Northern Ireland in 1979, 1980, 1981 and to the nearest available date in 1982.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerFinancial support paid to the towns gas industry and the electricity industry in Northern Ireland has been as follows:
Financial year Gas industry Electricity industry £ million £ million 1979–80 5.20 20.00 1980–81 9.08 38.00 1981–82 10.02 67.70 1982–83* 10.50 59.80 * Estimated. Government financial support for the National Coal Board is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy. No subsidies specifically in respect of its activities in Northern Ireland have been paid to the National Coal Board, but Northern Ireland consumers must be presumed to have benefited from the deficit and operating grants paid to the National Coal Board for the three years 1979–80 to 1981–82 totalling £819 million.