HC Deb 26 February 2003 vol 400 cc556-7W
Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been completed on the Severn barrage. [98287]

Mr. Wilson

Between 1978 and 1994 the Government supported a number of studies under its Tidal Energy Research and Development Programme. Specifically, an assessment of the feasibility of a Severn barrage was published in 1981 as Energy Paper 461. Between 1983 and 1985 an Interim Study2 assessed the technical and financial viability of a Severn barrage leading to a further programme of research reported in 1989 as Energy Paper 573.

Between 1990 and 1993 further environmental and regional studies were carried out. In 2001 a study was commissioned to examine the merits for a re-appraisal of the Severn barrage. The report was published in early 2003 and can be seen at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/severn.shtml

1 Energy Paper 46 HMSO 1981 (ISBN 011 4109168 and 410919 2)

2 Tidal Power from the Severn, STPG, 1986 (ISBN 07277 03587 and 0368 4)

3Energy Paper 57 HMSO 1989 (ISBN 0 11 412952 5)

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