§ 16. Sir Trevor SkeetTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much support his Department is giving to environmental work relating to tidal barrages.
§ Mr. MoynihanMy Department has so far allocated about £1.8 million towards general environmental work relating to tidal energy barrages.
Further funding for studies on the Severn and Mersey barrage projects was announced in the summer. This included contributions for environmental work of £456,000 and £360,000, respectively, from my Department.
§ 18. Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what measures will be taken to assist in the feasibility studies for the construction of a Severn barrage or a Mersey barrage; and how much electricity each of these would generate.
§ Mr. MoynihanMy Department is making funds available of £0.46 million and £1.5 million for feasibility studies of tidal energy barrages on the Severn and Mersey estuaries respectively. It has been estimated that the barrage will provide approximately 8 per cent. of the present electricity requirements of England and Wales.