§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the amount of public money, other than on essential site-specific environmental work referred to in his answer of 23 October, to be expended on the proposed Severn barrage.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonBefore a Severn tidal barrage could go ahead, a full environmental impact assessment would need to be carried out over several years. This could cost about £10 to £15 million.
Over the next two years only essential work on the Severn barrage will be undertaken. This will include:
- some site-specific environmental work;
- a study of the organisation and financing issues for a barrage.
The work to be undertaken immediately is under discussion with the Severn tidal power group in the light of its recent report.
The Department will also be funding generic tidal research and development in support of site-specific work 644W on the Severn, Mersey and other estuaries. This work mainly addresses environmental issues. The total cost of generic environmental studies completed since 1986 and currently under way amounts to £1 million.