18. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Power whether he will undertake a review of the investigations made into the possibilities of supplying power by means of water barrages; and whether he will give further consideration to developing such schemes, having regard to the increased cost of power from other sources.
§ Mr. John MorrisNo, Sir. The power supply aspects are kept under review by the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Scottish Electricity Boards, which have regard 992 to all relevant factors in drawing up their capital development programmes.
Mr. Gresham CookeWill the hon. Gentleman see that the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Scottish Electricity Board take note of the work being done by Mr. E. M. Wilson in the Department of Civil Engineering at Sheffield University on a barrage for the Solway Firth, plans for another barrage across Morecambe Bay and so on, and will he bear in mind that these plans may, within two or three years, perhaps, bring electricity to this country as economically as that generated by any other power?
§ Mr. MorrisMy right hon. Friend is well aware of these projects at Sheffield, but, as I told the hon. Gentleman on 8th December, the Generating Board estimates that in the most promising schemes so far proposed in this country the cost of generating electricity by tidal barrage would not be competitive.
§ Mr. WebsterAs one of the projects suggested by the researchers at Sheffield would use the Severn channel bore, will the hon. Gentleman ensure that nothing is done to build a jetty which would interfere with this bore?