§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received the report by the National Engineering Laboratory on the feasibility of harnessing wave power for the generation of electricity; what studies are currently being sponsored by his Department; and when he expects to make a statement.
§ Mr. John SmithThe report by the National Engineering Laboratory is expected within a few weeks. No other studies on wave power are being sponsored directly by my Department but we have been closely associated with the contract which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry has placed with Edinburgh University. The NEL report will need careful study before decisions can be made about any possible future programme of work and there are no plans to make a statement before that has been done.