§ Mr. AltonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about funding arrangements for tidal energy schemes and their implications for the construction of a barrage on the River Mersey.
§ Mr. EggarSince 1979–80 the Government have spent £10.5 million on work on tidal power. The objective of the Government's programme on tidal power is to reduce the technical, economic, regional and environmental uncertainties associated with tidal barrages through a number of site and generic studies.
The Government have already contributed £2.5 million towards feasibility studies completed at a cost of £5 million on the River Mersey tidal barrage project. The Government are funding a further £1.n of the £1.n cost of the current stage of studies. A decision on any further work on the Mersey barrage will be considered when this current phase of work is completed later this year.