§ Baroness Miller of Hendonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they are making to the European Commission regarding the ruling that the rescue plan for British Energy is unlawful. [HL4300]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)The European Commission has not ruled that the Government's aid to British Energy is unlawful. The Commission announced on 23 July that it was opening a formal investigation procedure into the restructuring aid, which is normal in major restructuring aid cases. It also set out a number of issues and questions on our notification of the company's restructuring plan on 7 March which the Government have addressed in their response to the Commission. The Commission's announcement was very much the beginning of a process and we look forward to working with it to complete the case as swiftly as possible. The Government do, of course, remain well prepared for administration should British Energy fail, for any reason, to implement its restructuring plan.
§ Baroness Miller of Hendonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What alternative proposals they have to assist British Energy and the electricity generating industry if the European Commission's ruling that the rescue plan for British Energy is unlawful stands. [HL4301]
In £millions Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Other Payments by Households (FKIQ) 2809 2906 2975 3236 3364 Figures for 2002 will be published in the 2003 Pink Book dataset on 30 September. A country breakdown is not available.