REAPPRAISAL OF THE SEVERN BARRAGE PROJECT

That this House notes that the need for reliable and renewable sources of energy has intensified in recent years and that the River Severn, with the second largest tidal range in the world, has the potential to contribute towards building a more sustainable energy resource for the UK; further notes that, as one of the objectives of the forthcoming Energy White Paper will be to address the growing concerns over fulfilling the UK's sustainable energy requirements, the case for the Severn Barrage project deserves to be revisited; further notes that the Severn Barrage has the potential to become a renewable and sustainable option in the UK's energy mix, as it would produce 5 per cent. of current UK electricity needs and reduce UK carbon output by 3 per cent., and that the Barrage is also able to prevent flooding in Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Wales; and calls on the Government to include an urgent reappraisal of the Severn Barrage as one of the options in the forthcoming Energy White Paper.