We, in UKIP, are in favour of tidal lagoons and recognise that the technology has the potential to supply a lot of the UK’s energy needs, reduce our carbon emissions and, most importantly, provide energy security and diversification. I did, however, have many questions about how the schemes would be funded and how local communities and the local economy would benefit from the construction and operation of these lagoons. The work undertaken by Charles Hendry and his team has reassured me that we can achieve a strike price that is not only fair to bill payers and taxpayers, but also represents a good deal for the UK and the developers. The Hendry review has highlighted the potential of the UK to become a world leader in this technology and develop a UK supply chain for future tidal lagoons. It is imperative that the UK and Welsh Governments, together with Tidal Lagoon Power, ensure that that happens. But I believe we should go further: Swansea and my region are to be the pathfinders for this technology and should therefore enjoy the most benefit from the initial scheme.

According to Tidal Lagoon Power’s own documentation, the Swansea lagoon’s construction will require 100,000 tonnes of steel. They state that the majority will be sourced from the UK; however they have appointed Andritz Hydro as their major development partner. Andritz Hydro is part of the Andritz group, which includes Andritz Metals who manufacture steel products in France, Germany and the Netherlands. We need to have a cast-iron guarantee, if you’ll excuse the pun, that the majority of the steel for the Swansea project will be sourced from Port Talbot. We have a steelworks right on the doorstep of the project, so why should the steel be shipped in from elsewhere in the UK or Europe? Tidal Lagoon Power also state that 5 million tonnes of rock will be needed for the project. They state that one of their major shareholders has purchased a quarry in Cornwall, so yet again Wales is not benefiting. South Wales West has been supplying energy to the rest of the UK since the industrial revolution in the form of coal, then wind power and now tidal energy. We should be one of the richest regions in the UK, as opposed to one of the poorest. Is it too much to ask that my region enjoys the biggest benefit from this tidal revolution? I hope the Welsh Government can get assurances from the UK Government and Tidal Lagoon plc that Swansea, South Wales West and Wales as a whole will be the largest beneficiaries from these tidal lagoons.

There also remain serious questions about the impact on fisheries in and around the Swansea bay region. In its most recent update, Tidal Lagoon Power have stated that it has not yet been possible to reach agreement on the scale of likely fish impacts at Swansea bay. This needs to be resolved as soon as possible and I urge the Welsh Government to work with angling and fishing groups in Swansea bay to ensure their livelihoods are not affected by the tidal lagoon. Provided we can ensure that my region benefits from a tidal lagoon and we can guarantee no major environmental impacts from the construction and operation of the lagoon, I am happy to support it, along with my party, and we will be supporting this motion before us today. Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd.