<p>The Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon</p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 31 January 2017.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 2:16, 31 January 2017

Charles Hendry—we were delighted he was here last week briefing Assembly Members. It was a clear and resounding endorsement of the Swansea lagoon as a pathfinder, and he said in his report, and I quote,

‘The costs of a pathfinder project would be about 30p per household per year over the first 30 years.’

Thirty pence.

‘A large scale project would be less than 50p over the first 60 years. The benefits of that investment could be huge, especially in South Wales, but also in many other parts of the country. Having looked at all the evidence, spoken to many of the key players, on both sides of this debate, it is my view that we should seize the opportunity to move this technology forward now.’

So, would the First Minister note the cross- party support here in the Senedd, the cross-party support among many Welsh MPs, the cross-sectoral business support, the university support and, whilst we do need to deal with the remaining environmental concerns, the wider NGO support for this landmark sustainable energy scheme? Would he further agree that this, as I said to Charles Hendry when he first came here to take views, is a no-brainer, or, as he said in his report, ‘a no-regrets policy’ for Government, and we would welcome a supportive statement from the UK Government for the pathway project at the very earliest opportunity? What can he do to help get that supportive statement?