§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Government's investment appraisal of Kilroot II and the competing public and private sector lignite proposals for electricity generation is likely to be completed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersThe investment appraisal of the competing power station proposals has been completed and the Government have decided that Kilroot phase II will be developed to meet the need for new generating capacity in Northern Ireland. It has also been decided to set in hand immediately an examination of ways of privatising the entire Northern Ireland electricity system.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had on the future of electricity generation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersI announced on 15 July that the Government have decided to meet the need for new 565W generating capacity in Northern Ireland, which will occur in the mid-1990s by installing the third and fourth generating sets in the Kilroot power station as dual coal-oil fired units.
On the same day I announced plans to examine ways of privatising the entire Northern Ireland electricity system.