§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Chairman of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation concerning the adjudication by the Parliamentary Commissioner into the Friends of the Earth complaint regarding refusal of information on the Gwent Levels mitigating works and bird reserve; and if he will make a statement. [48624]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesNone.
§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if his review of the Cardiff Bay Barrage is based on the principle of retaining the 1994 cap and economising on ancillary projects; [48622]
(2) on what date he commenced his review of the total costs of the Cardiff Bay Barrage; when he expects to complete his review of the barrage cost cap; and if he will place a copy of the completed review in the Library; [48623]
(3) what provision he has made for increasing the grant-in-aid to the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation in association with the completion of his costs cap review; what increased barrage project costs he has already approved; and what increases in costs have been submitted for approval. [48625]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe Corporation made available to my Department in February a confidential internal review on the costs of the Barrage project. That review has since been the subject of discussion with the Corporation. On 29 June, I reaffirmed my guidance to the Board that tight256W control should be exercised over these costs to contain them within the total of £191m announced to Parliament, including provision of £8.8m for the Bird Reserve.
I have asked the Corporation to prepare an update of the review document, excluding commercially confidential material, as soon as possible. I shall arrange for a copy of that document to be placed in the Library of the House.