Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Flynn Excerpts
Wednesday 26th April 2017

(7 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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My hon. Friend is right to recognise that natural resources in Wales can play a significant role in the energy mix of not only Wales but the UK. We would like this type of project to succeed, but of course it needs to be value for money for the taxpayer.

Paul Flynn Portrait Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab)
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Why are the Government so reluctant to embrace Wales’s equivalent of North sea power: tidal energy, which is entirely predictable, eternal and free, and would provide a bonanza of jobs?

Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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I hope that the hon. Gentleman will recognise that it was this Government’s early actions in 2015 that led to planning permission being granted for the project that he highlights. As I said, we would like this type of project to succeed, but it must be value for money. Above all, we need strong and stable leadership to provide the economic security to pay for any such project.