§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what direct representations he has made to the French Government calling for the speeding up of reciprocal changes to the French electricity market. [62220]
§ Mr. BattleMy officials have made representations to their French counterparts about the imbalance in electricity trade between the UK and France on two occasions, and we will continue to raise this issue with the French Government at both Ministerial and official level.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has to ensure two-way trade on the Anglo-French electricity interconnector. [62192]
§ Mr. BattleThe steps which the Government are considering taking in order to ensure fair trade in electricity with Europe were set out in the White Paper on the Conclusions of The Review of Energy Source for Power Generation (Cm 4071). These include reviewing interconnector trading in the context of the reform of wholesale trading arrangements and the use of the reciprocity provision in the electricity liberalisation directive. There should, however, be increasing opportunities for trade in electricity following implementation of the directive in February 1999.