§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the present position in respect of the proposed Mersey barrage scheme.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Merseyside Barrage Company was formed in February 1986 to foster joint participation from the public and private sectors.
A £700,000 study is to take place to investigate that there are no overriding impediments to the construction of the barrage and its preferred location.
The barrage is primarily an energy-based project. The Department of Energy is in the lead for the Government and has contributed £400,000 towards the cost of the feasibility study.