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Seven barrage: Pre-election consent not likely - Barker | Seven barrage: Pre-election consent not likely - Barker |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A UK energy minister has played down the prospect of the proposed £30bn Severn barrage getting the go-ahead. | A UK energy minister has played down the prospect of the proposed £30bn Severn barrage getting the go-ahead. |
Greg Barker dismissed claims that a law to secure the barrage could be passed before the next general election. | Greg Barker dismissed claims that a law to secure the barrage could be passed before the next general election. |
He said the company behind the scheme, from the Vale of Glamorgan to Somerset, must provide more information before the UK government could support it. | He said the company behind the scheme, from the Vale of Glamorgan to Somerset, must provide more information before the UK government could support it. |
Hafren Power said it had submitted a 150-page business case and that it was disappointed by the criticism. | Hafren Power said it had submitted a 150-page business case and that it was disappointed by the criticism. |
The barrage would be constructed over 18km (11 miles) between Lavernock Point and Weston-super-Mare. | The barrage would be constructed over 18km (11 miles) between Lavernock Point and Weston-super-Mare. |
Backers say it would mean jobs and help tackle climate change, but opponents say it would harm the environment. | Backers say it would mean jobs and help tackle climate change, but opponents say it would harm the environment. |
Objectors also say it would endanger wildlife and that the costs outweigh the benefits. | Objectors also say it would endanger wildlife and that the costs outweigh the benefits. |
Mr Barker was giving evidence to MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee. | Mr Barker was giving evidence to MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee. |
One committee member, Labour MP John Robertson, said the amount of information provided by Hafren Power, the company behind the Severn barrage proposal, was "embarrassing". | One committee member, Labour MP John Robertson, said the amount of information provided by Hafren Power, the company behind the Severn barrage proposal, was "embarrassing". |
He told the minister: "I'm surprised you haven't just thrown it out completely". | He told the minister: "I'm surprised you haven't just thrown it out completely". |
Mr Barker agreed with the committee chair, Conservative MP Tim Yeo, that "some pretty big questions remain insufficiently answered". | Mr Barker agreed with the committee chair, Conservative MP Tim Yeo, that "some pretty big questions remain insufficiently answered". |
Mr Yeo said it would be in Hafren Power's interests to be more transparent about what it was proposing. | Mr Yeo said it would be in Hafren Power's interests to be more transparent about what it was proposing. |
Mr Barker said it had presented his department with an outline proposal case but he said ministers were not sitting on a great deal of information. He held up Hafren Power's executive summary which ran to only a few pages of A4 paper. | Mr Barker said it had presented his department with an outline proposal case but he said ministers were not sitting on a great deal of information. He held up Hafren Power's executive summary which ran to only a few pages of A4 paper. |
He said the proposed Severn barrage could be a very significant asset for the UK. | He said the proposed Severn barrage could be a very significant asset for the UK. |
'Listening mode' | 'Listening mode' |
"However, the information that the department has seen so far doesn't allow us to assess if the proposal is credible, nor if it could actually stand a chance of achieving the benefits Hafren Power claims the scheme would achieve," he said. | "However, the information that the department has seen so far doesn't allow us to assess if the proposal is credible, nor if it could actually stand a chance of achieving the benefits Hafren Power claims the scheme would achieve," he said. |
"There are a number of issues that Hafren Power would need to explore in much greater detail before we could take a view as to whether their proposal warrants further interest from government." | "There are a number of issues that Hafren Power would need to explore in much greater detail before we could take a view as to whether their proposal warrants further interest from government." |
He said Hafren Power needed to show that the project would tackle environmental challenges, work to mitigate the negative impact on the local economy such as Bristol Port and - most importantly - provide evidence the project is affordable and represents good value for electricity consumers. | He said Hafren Power needed to show that the project would tackle environmental challenges, work to mitigate the negative impact on the local economy such as Bristol Port and - most importantly - provide evidence the project is affordable and represents good value for electricity consumers. |
The company had yet to provide details on the design of turbines which meant the government could not have a view on the scheme's ecological impact or its cost. | The company had yet to provide details on the design of turbines which meant the government could not have a view on the scheme's ecological impact or its cost. |
Mr Barker also played down suggestions that a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron last year suggested there was momentum behind the project. | Mr Barker also played down suggestions that a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron last year suggested there was momentum behind the project. |
He said that view may rely on a partial account of the meeting, where Mr Cameron was "very much in listening mode". | He said that view may rely on a partial account of the meeting, where Mr Cameron was "very much in listening mode". |
He said Hafren Power's evidence was not sufficiently compelling, but the government had left the door open for that to change. | He said Hafren Power's evidence was not sufficiently compelling, but the government had left the door open for that to change. |
A form of legislation known as a hybrid bill would be needed before the scheme can go ahead. | A form of legislation known as a hybrid bill would be needed before the scheme can go ahead. |
'Confusion and division' | |
Asked if it was realistic to suggest a bill could pass before the next general election in 2015, the minister said: "Not at all." | Asked if it was realistic to suggest a bill could pass before the next general election in 2015, the minister said: "Not at all." |
Neath MP Peter Hain, who is campaigning for the barrage, said later: 'If we're now unlikely to see the hybrid bill required for the Severn barrage in this parliament that will mean two more years delay for a gigantic £25bn investment creating 50,000 desperately needed jobs. | |
"Sadly, confusion and division in government now means we're working to a longer timescale." | |
Mr Hain, a former Welsh Secretary, said the minister's "curious statement" was at variance with constructive meetings he had had with other ministers, including David Cameron. | |
A spokesman for Hafren Power said: "We are pleased to see the Department of Energy is keeping an open mind on the project, but disappointed at the criticism of lack of detail when it has, for example, a new 150-page business case from us. | A spokesman for Hafren Power said: "We are pleased to see the Department of Energy is keeping an open mind on the project, but disappointed at the criticism of lack of detail when it has, for example, a new 150-page business case from us. |
"However, we'll keep working with the government to supply answers and secure support to proceed." | "However, we'll keep working with the government to supply answers and secure support to proceed." |