‘Lagoon’s a fit for new UK growth strategy’
THE pledge to pursue “clean growth” at the heart of the industrial strategy the UK Government will launch today has spurred calls for it to turn rhetoric into reality by backing the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.
There was alarm last week at lack of any mention of the lagoon in the Budget – despite a recommendation by an independent review in January for the UK Government to give the renewable energy project the go-ahead.
Today, Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, will identify clean growth as an area where the UK has a chance to lead globally.
Swansea East Labour MP Carolyn Harris called for the Government to stop “stalling” on the lagoon, saying: “I know investors are nervous, which worries me because without the investors this will be a dead duck...”
Swansea West Labour MP Geraint Davies also argued the commitment to “green growth” should spur the UK Government to give the thumbs-up to the lagoon and back proposals for the Swansea Metro system.
He said: “[If] we’re to save the planet, fracking and oil production will have to be cut, which will up the price of energy, and it’s important we invest now in the energy of the future.”
He added the plan to have trains on the Great Western line switch from electric power to diesel for the Cardiff to Swansea leg of the journey was “crazy at a time when the Germans are investing in hydrogen-driven trains”.
Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn urged the UK Government to support tidal and hydro power in Wales. He said: “Minds seem to be closed to the obvious enormous advantages of tidal power that’s gone to waste but we shall keep on battering away.”
Wales Office minister Lord Bourne is due to visit the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth.
He said: “The move to cleaner economic growth – through low-carbon technologies and the efficient use of resources – is one of the greatest industrial opportunities of our time.”
The four areas where the UK Government argues the country has the chance to become a leader are artificial intelligence and Big Data; clean growth; the future of mobility; and meeting needs of an ageing society.
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns will launch the Industrial Strategy White Paper in Wales at Airbus’ Newport base.
He said: “The Industrial Strategy sets out a compelling vision for the future of the UK economy.
“To support rapid adoption of AI technologies at scale, the UK Government wants to work with priority business sectors, including cybersecurity – an area [the] Airbus Campus excels in.”
Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru is pushing for action to raise prosperity in Wales.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards wants the Assembly to be given responsibility for VAT and corporation tax so it can improve the economy.
Adam Price, who represents the seat for Plaid in the Assembly, said: “We’ve gone backwards on rail electrification, had no support for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, and are denied the kind of economy-boosting powers available to Scotland and Northern Ireland.”