§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the availability of gas in Northern Ireland to(a) domestic users and (b) industrial users. [39630]
§ Mr. AncramBritish Gas is in the process of laying an undersea pipeline from Scotland to Northern Ireland to supply its Ballylumford power station and it has recently 341W announced plans to lay a pipeline from there which will enable it to supply natural gas to consumers in the greater Belfast area. A gas supply to industrial, commercial and domestic consumers is expected to be available at the end of 1996. I intend to present legislation at the beginning of 1996 to facilitate this development.