§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the EU support grant for the gas interconnector with Scotland and the conversion of Ballylumford power station indicating which geographic areas, communities and sectors in Northern Ireland were specified in the application to the European Commission as the intended beneficiaries. [24868]
§ Mr. AncramEU grant for the gas interconnector with Scotland and the conversion of Ballylumford power station is being provided under the natural gas measure contained in the Northern Ireland single programming document 1994–99. The objectives of the measure include diversification of Northern Ireland's energy sources and the introduction of further competition into the energy system. Specific geographic areas, communities and sectors are not listed as beneficiaries.