§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consideration he is giving to the proposal by the National Coal Board to establish a coal-based gas plant in Belfast linked to existing gas supply systems as an alternative to the importation by pipeline of natural gas from Kinsale, Ireland; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will estimate the capital cost of establishing a coal-based gas plant in Belfast utilising existing gas supplies as compared with importing natural gas by pipeline from Kinsale, Ireland;
(3) if he will estimate the savings on conversion costs by establishing a coal-based gas plant in Belfast utilising existing gas supplies as compared with importing natural gas by pipeline from Kinsale, Ireland.
§ Mr. ButlerA paper recently circulated by the National Coal Board claimed that a coal gasification plant to provide a supply of gas for Belfast only would be viable. I am having that claim urgently assessed by independent experts. Until I receive a report from those experts I am not in a position to comment either on the likely capital cost of the gasification or on whether it would be possible by this means to avoid any of the costs which would be involved in converting appliances to use natural gas.