§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing whether provision of(a) a natural gas pipeline and (b) an electricity connector between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is likely to be feasible; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe technical and economic feasibility of using gas for power generation is currently being assessed. Several possible routes for a pipeline from Great Britain are being examined and sea bed surveys have been completed. Initial discussions have been held with a number of natural gas suppliers.
On an electricity interconnector, discussions are continuing between Northern Ireland Electricity and Scottish Power.