§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about tariffs for industrial users of electricity in Northern Ireland in the light of the coal review White Paper.
§ Sir Patrick MayhewI welcome the fact that the coal review White Paper deals fully with Northern Ireland energy matters. Following consultation with the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland, I have agreed to extend existing transitional support for large users of electricity in Northern Ireland to cover all monthly billed industrial consumers and to lengthen the period during which this support is available to four years.