§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that no licence to operate gas supply in Northern Ireland be granted within three months of the coming into operation of article 8(8) of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. [23906]
§ Mr. Ancram[holding answer 1 April 1996]: No. A gas market in Northern Ireland offers many benefits and it is the intention to encourage rapid and extensive development of such a market. The purpose of articles 8(8) is to enable the development of the new gas market to commence on the earliest possible date.
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§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that no licence be granted under articles 8 and 9 of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order which will give monopoly of supply at the expense of competition. [23908]
§ Mr. Ancram[holding answer 1 April 1996]: No. The ability to grant exclusive rights under articles 8 and 9 reflects the very significant commercial risks associated with the development of a new gas industry in Northern Ireland entirely from scratch. Any applications for exclusive rights will be considered on their merits.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that licences granted under the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order contain a requirement that domestic gas be supplied to the whole of the Province. [23904]
§ Mr. Ancram[holding answer 1 April 1996]: The development of a natural gas industry in Northern Ireland will be undertaken by the private sector on grounds of commercial viability. It would not be appropriate for any licence holder to be compelled to supply gas to domestic consumers throughout the Province.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that licences granted under the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order will require immediate open access and full transparency of charges for use of gas supply networks. [23905]
§ Mr. Ancram[holding answer 1 April I996]: No. Periods of exclusivity may be appropriate because of the commercial risks attaching to the development of the new natural gas industry in Northern Ireland. Once any exclusivity period had ended, there would be third party access to the network on the basis of regulated charges.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that no licence will be issued under article 8(8) of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 without an evaluation of all licence applications and their area of operation and a full public consultation. [23907]
§ Mr. Ancram[holding answer I April 1996]: When issuing a licence for any area the Department of Economic Development and the Regulator will have regard for their general duties under article 5 of the order. The purpose of article 8(8) is to enable the development of the new gas market to commence on the earliest possible date.