§ Lord Beaumont of WhitleyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper, and may I take this opportunity to wish noble Lords a happy and prosperous New Year?
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why only one of the wavepower systems under development is to be chosen for full-scale trials, as reported in the Financial Times of 27th October 1980.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, on behalf of noble Lords on this side of the House, may I reciprocate the good wishes for the New Year? The answer to the noble Lord's Question is that the report in the Financial Times of 27th October is speculative and no decision has yet been made on whether large or full-scale sea trials should take place or on the type or number of systems which might be involved.
§ Lord Beaumont of WhitleyMy Lords, while I thank the noble Earl for that helpful and hopeful Answer, may I ask whether he agrees that, in view of the ongoing energy crisis, there is a very forceful case for trying out with full-scale trials any experiment which seems likely to succeed?
§ The Earl of AvonYes, my Lords. The Government are fully aware of this and are proceeding at what I think the noble Lord will find to be very satisfactory speed.