HC Deb 03 November 1988 vol 139 cc708-9W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on future funding by his Department to support the wide tank at Edinburgh university for wave energy reseach.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Any proposal from Edinburgh university will be considered on its merits.

Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the report and conclusions submitted in 1983 by Rendel Palmer and Tritton concerning the viability of the Salter's Duck wave power project were first submitted in any form to his Department; what alterations in that report or its conclusions were made or recommended by his officials; what representations he has received from Mr. Gordon Senior on the alteration of the report as submitted by him; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The report by Rendel, Palmer and Tritton was submitted to the Department in 1983.

Rendel, Palmer and Tritton were contracted to act as independent assessors for all wave energy devices and their conclusions were reached independently based on experience and engineering knowledge. The Department is aware of Mr. Gordon Senior's views on the matter.