UK Nuclear Energy Programme Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate

Lord Hain

Main Page: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)

UK Nuclear Energy Programme

Lord Hain Excerpts
Monday 21st October 2013

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text
Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who has championed this investment over a number of years. I saw on my rather wet visit this morning to Hinkley Point C that he is well known on the plant. The fact that he is focusing on the skills agenda, and that the Prime Minister and I met a lot of young apprentices who are looking forward to working at Hinkley Point C for many years, shows the potential for this development—what it means for the community that my hon. Friend represents, the wider economy and the British economy. It is indeed a good day for the British economy.

Lord Hain Portrait Mr Peter Hain (Neath) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

Even accepting the case for Hinkley, why is the Secretary of State not giving in-principle support to the Severn barrage, which would deliver clean green energy at half the price, at a similar strike price, over three to four times the lifespan of Hinkley and with three times the number of jobs? I just do not understand it.

Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am grateful for the right hon. Gentleman’s persistence in this issue. He knows that I have met him and looked at the figures that have been produced by those who want to see a Severn barrage created. It would not be at half the price; it would probably be at double the price; it is extremely expensive. No one would be more delighted than I if we could see tidal power in the Severn. I believe it will come, but the price will have to come down because we must protect the consumer.