Written question asked by Duke of Montrose (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 November 2008.

Energy: Scotland

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Evans of Temple Guiting on 19 December 2005 (WA 203), to what extent the Department of Energy and Climate Change has responsibility in Scotland for the subject matter of Part I of the Electricity Act 1989; and to what extent it has been devolved under the Scotland Act 1998; and

Answer: The administrative functions under the Electricity Act 1989 of consenting overhead electric lines (Section 37) and generating stations (Section 36) and associated wayleaves in Scotland (Schedule 4), previously carried out by the Secretary of State for Scotland were transferred to Scottish Ministers. There is no statutory mechanism for the simultaneous upgrading of the interconnector between Scotland and England. As with any network development, it will be for the network companies responding to need to ensure the necessary infrastructure is put in place. The internal market in electricity (IMED) rules place an obligation on operators to provide to the operator of any other system with which its system is interconnected sufficient information to ensure the secure and efficient operation, co-ordinated development and interoperability of the interconnected system.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 705 c135WA; 5869
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Cairngorms National Park: Electricity Pylons
Monday, 19 December 2005
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Devolution Electricity Electric cables Scotland
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk