HC Deb 11 June 2003 vol 406 cc899-900W
Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the stability of power supplies in Dumfries and Galloway. [115818]

Mr. Wilson

I am aware that SP Transmission and Distribution, the license holder for the Dumfries and Galloway area, is addressing two strategic issues that relate to the security and quality of supply in the area. These are the closure of Chapelcross power station (in or before 2008) and the impact of renewable generation in the area. In the first case, a new substation will be commissioned in Gretna to secure the network against premature closure of the power station. In the case of renewables, SP Transmission and Distribution have collaborated with a study on behalf of the Department to identify necessary infrastructure reinforcements to accommodate various scenarios of renewable generation in Scotland.