Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Charles Hendry and Alun Michael

Thursday 12th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)]

T3. Ministers will be aware that the Welsh landfall for an optimal Severn tidal barrage will be in my constituency. Given the need for a major increase in renewable energy and the potential for creating nearly 40,000 jobs, will Ministers provide us with some clarity on what the Government will do to promote this project?

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry)]

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman is aware that a year or so ago we published a report, which had been commissioned by the previous Government, to look at the barrage proposals and the lagoon proposals. It showed that the largest of those would cost £30 billion-odd, and we believe that in the current climate that is unaffordable. We know that work is being done on looking at other ways of bringing finance into that. We have said that we will keep an open mind on the proposal, but it needs to be done at a cheaper cost to consumers.