§ 11. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current level of support by the Government of the four different wave energy systems now in course of experimentation in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. John MooreThe level of support for wave energy research in this financial year is expected to be about £ 3-5 million. Work in earlier years on the four original devices, together with more recent inventions, has led to the evolution of more cost-effective designs on which future support will be concentrated.
§ Mr. HooleyAs there is a massive over-capacity in electrical generating plant and as the CEGB is continually 18 revising down its demand, should we not take this splendid opportunity to invest in this alternative source instead of proceeding with an idiotic nuclear programme?
§ Mr. MooreI have drawn attention to the fact that £ 3-5 million is being invested this year, as opposed to the £ 900,000 that was invested when the programme started in 1977-78. The Government therefore recognise the importance of investing in such an important area.
§ Mr. MooreI would hesitate to answer without having been given notice, but I believe that about £ 40,000-plus will go to the project at Queen's university, Belfast. I shall give the right hon. Gentleman details later.
§ Mr. EadieAs the Minister knows that informed opinion holds that research and development in wave energy have good prospects, will he give an assurance that that research and development programme will not suffer because of the Government's constraints on public expenditure?
§ Mr. MooreThe hon. Gentleman is right. The potential size of the resource—I stress the word "potential"—relates to 1,000 kilometres of usable coastal waters. At the most, that might create the equivalent of 30 million tonnes of coal. In the long term, it is a potentially viable source of energy. Projects have not been denied because of public expenditure constraints. Obviously, we are concerned about the sensible, wise and rational use of valuable public money.