Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has given consideration to a link between the natural gas grids in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland as part of an overall European gas grid; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI have not had such a proposal put to me. However, the Government's policy is that interconnections between the gas grids of Great Britain and other countries need to meet normal criteria of commercial viability.