Swansea Tidal Lagoon: Hendry Review

Lord Rowe-Beddoe Excerpts

Tuesday 1st May 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Henley]

The noble Lord is slightly more of an optimist than I am.

[Lord Rowe-Beddoe (CB)]

My Lords, I remind the Minister and the House that the Bristol Channel is the route of the second largest rise and fall of tide in the world. It is more than 40 feet every day. We have tried since 2012, if my memory serves me correctly, to harness the power awaiting us. Please will the Minister realise what is happening here, because we cannot go on? Whether it is Cardiff, the Bristol barrage, the Swansea lagoon or anything, we should take a decision to back renewable energy.

[Lord Henley]

My Lords, the noble Lord will find that the Government do back renewable energy. I can give him an assurance that I was aware of the figures he gave about the tidal variations in the Bristol Channel, but I cannot take him any further on when the decision will be made.