§ Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received the consultants' report on the Cardiff harbour mouth barrage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI have received the reports on the preliminary studies into the feasibility of building a barrage across the Cardiff harbour mouth and of the investment potential in the south Cardiff area. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library of the House together with a summary of their conclusions.
The reports are encouraging and suggest that the construction of a barrage at an estimated cost of about £45 million would be technically feasible and would be likely to create significant new development opportunities in the Cardiff waterfront area and beyond. The reports recommend further confirmatory studies before any decision to proceed wih the building of a barrage is taken.
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§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each Welsh health authority for each year since 1980 (a) the total joint finance expenditure and (b) the total overspend or underspend for joint finance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe total joint finance expenditure by each health authority, including any Welsh Office central contribution, is set out in the table. Any underspending or overspending on schemes is a matter for the management of individual health authorities, and this information is not held centrally.
I accept these conclusions and intend to commission further work on engineering aspects, conservation, and investment potential.
I understand that this further work can be undertaken by the autumn of this year. In the meantime, I intend to consult all interested parties about the content of these reports.