HC Deb 28 January 1997 vol 289 cc173-4W
Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on each incident which resulted in a power supply failure, in the Newry and Mourne district in each of the past 10 years, indicating

Table B: Recorded crimes and clear-up rate in relation to "taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent or other authority"
Year Number of crimes recorded Clear up rate (per cent.)
1991 4,928 40
1992 5,842 35
1993 5,353 42
1994 5,115 29
1995 4,521 27

the length of time power was off, the estimated number of houses involved, the electoral wards affected and the nature of the fault. [11689]

Mr. Ancram

[holding answer 24 January 1997]: I am informed by Northern Ireland Electricity plc that the detailed information requested is not readily available. However NIE is required under regulation 35 of the Electricity Supply Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991, which came into effect on 3 February 1992, to notify the Department of Economic Development of major failures of supply. The following failures in the Newry and Mourne district have been notified under regulation 35:

Date Number of customers affected Duration Change of failure
Hours Minutes
30 March 1993 5,300 2 50 Gale damage
10 June 1993 4,200 1 43 Conductor fault
12 September 3,900 1 55 Overhead line fault
16 October 1993 5,300 2 05 Third party damage to conductor
6 February 1994 4,355 1 27 Gale damage
17 August 1994 25,000 0 08 Inadvertent trip during protection testing
1 June 1995 25,900 3 10 Conductor fault
9 April 1996 11,000 0 20 Fault following malicious damage

I understand that NIE is currently engaged in a major long-term capital investment programme in the Newry and Mourne district with the aim of improving the security and quality of electricity supply in the area.

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