HC Deb 11 June 1964 vol 696 cc618-9
21. Mr. Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will commission a firm of engineering consultants to carry out a preliminary technical and economic survey of proposals for a Morecambe Bay barrage, incorporating a road and rail link enclosing the estuaries of the Leven and Kent and the use of these waters for public supply and for cooling of locally-sited power stations; and if he will undertake this as a matter of urgency sc that the findings may be taken into account by his North-West Regional Study Group in drawing up their report for the region.

Mr. D. Price

My right hon. Friend has asked the North-West Study Group to make a thorough assessment of the material already available about these proposals, in order that he may determine whether a survey is needed and, if so, on what lines it should be undertaken.

Mr. Holt

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that there is great interest in this plan? It might speed up a later decision if a preliminary technical examination was made of the proposals now? Is he aware that there was a report in the Guardian on 9th June that a firm of consultant engineers was interested in this? Can he tell us whether his Department had any contact with it? I understand that a professor of hydraulics at Delft University has been invited to come over to look at the scheme.

Mr. Price

I think the hon. Gentleman underestimates the fact that a great deal of information is already available to the Study Group. If the hon. Gentleman has more that he would like to feed into the Study Group, I should be delighted to receive it from him.

Mr. Jay

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the proponents of this scheme, in which there is great interest, also have a project for a barrage and a road link across the Solway Firth? Is the hon. Gentleman's Department examining this project also as part of a comprehensive scheme?

Mr. Price

I should like to reply to the right hon. Gentleman by letter about that proposition, because I cannot answer off the cuff. Proposals for such projects would be willingly and readily received by the Study Group and we would conceive it as part of the Group's duties to take these into its general review.