§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress being made towards the construction of a Mersey barrage.
§ Mr. David HuntThe Department and the Mersey Barrage Company have combined on an equal sharing basis to fund over £800,000 towards further studies into a Mersey barrage. I exchanged the relevant contract documents with the chairman of the Mersey Barrage Company at a ceremony in Liverpool on Monday 20 October.
The principal objective of the studies will be to assess whether there is any overriding impediment to the construction of the barrage and to select a preferred line. The consulting managers appointed by the company are now in process of inviting tenders and letting contracts for the study of these and related topics affecting the estuary.