§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland at what date Her Majesty's Government decided to set up separate inquiries in Scotland and Northern Ireland into the proposed electricity interconnector; and how this decision was reached.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 15 July 1994]: My right hon. Friend appointed a reporter to take a public inquiry to consider Scottish Power's application for the Scottish part of the proposed interconnector with Northern Ireland, and the objections to it, and to report to him. He understands that the reporter subsequently arranged that the public inquiry should start in Ayr on 4 October. Consideration of the application from Northern Ireland Electricity for that part of the interconnector which is proposed in Northern Ireland is not a matter for my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the Ove Arup report on the proposed Scotland-to-Northern Ireland electricity inter-connector; and if he will consider postponing the public inquiry into the matter of the interconnector until copies of this report have been made available to the objectors and the reporter.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 15 July 1994]: My right hon. Friend has not seen the Ove Arup report on the proposed electricity interconnector with Northern Ireland.