4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the future of marine energy in Wales? OAQ52467

We recognise the potential of marine energy in creating low-carbon energy and providing economic and social benefits to our coastal communities. Welsh Government policies have supported the development of a range of marine technologies, and we will continue to work to realise the opportunities associated with this sector.

Thank you, First Minister. After the disappointment of last week, it was good to visit Anglesey with Rhun ap Iorwerth on Friday and to see many exciting plans there related to marine energy—mainly Minesto, which has just launched its new tidal energy device in the harbour in Holyhead. The question arising is whether the £200 million that you as a Government had allocated to support one specific proposal for the tidal lagoon in Swansea bay is now available for a range of marine energy developments, for example those around Anglesey, or for a new lagoon proposal in Swansea bay. What are you intending to do to lead development in this area?

It’s true to say that that sum of money wasn’t directly allocated to Swansea, although it was needed at the time. We are considering in which ways we can assist and support marine technologies across Wales, particularly the lagoon in the north, to see what we as a Government can do to support the technology. But, we must consider that the big money, namely the money that the UK Government could have put into the Swansea lagoon, for example, is not devolved. But, it's true to say that we are still considering how we can support these technologies in the long term.

First Minister, this puts you in a bit of a quandary, I think, because of course we heard offers put forward for a new Swansea bay lagoon over the weekend, and while there are obviously questions about that and why they didn't put this offer forward sooner and whether the figures stack up, you did offer £200 million to support a Swansea bay lagoon on figures that actually proved unworkable in the end. So, what figures would you be looking for to persuade—[Interruption.] They were the same figures you had. We had the same figures. So, what figures would persuade you to consider keeping the offer on the table for Swansea bay?

I owe an apology to Paul Davies, there is another candidate who has just thrown her hat into the ring. I'm sorry for that. We can see the evidence there. [Laughter.] 

The reality is that the failure of the Swansea bay tidal lagoon is entirely in the hands of the UK Government. She talks about the figures; we don't accept the figures. Bear in mind that these figures were deemed unworkable by the very same people who got the figures for Hinkley wrong in the first place. So, why should we then trust the view of the UK Government? Let's bear in mind, all we asked for was the same treatment as Hinkley. That was it. If she is saying the figures for Hinkley were wrong, then that is something for the UK Government to explain. We just wanted the same chwarae teg for Wales as Hinkley got, and we were let down once again.