§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in securing European Commission approval for a three year subsidy scheme to reduce tariffs for business customers at 10 per cent. below true costs. [175722]
§ Mr. GardinerA paper has been submitted to the European Commission outlining the Government's proposal to make an intervention aimed at bringing about a 10 per cent. decrease in electricity prices for non-domestic consumers below the level they would otherwise have been.
A meeting to discuss the matter with Commission officials will take place early next month.