§ Mr. Beggsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what study he has carried out into whether a combined heat and power station in Northern Ireland would improve energy efficiency in the province.
§ Dr. BoysonNorthern Ireland is part of the national programme of studies on the potential for combined heat and power and district heating in the United Kingdom, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy. Under this programme the Department of Energy has offered the Belfast joint venture a grant of £250,000 to pursue further studies on combined heat and power in the city of Belfast.
Under the Northern Ireland energy conservation scheme, adminstered by the Department of Economic Development, financial assistance of up to 30 per cent. is available to industry and commerce for combined heat and power projects.