I would love to see tidal lagoon, insists Cairns, as doubts linger

WELSH Secretary Alun Cairns has insisted he would “love” to see the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon become reality as concern mounts that the landmark renewable project will not become reality.

The Vale of Glamorgan MP was grilled by the Welsh Affairs Committee, and in a highly personal round of questioning was asked if he was “embarrassed now to go back home at Christmas”.

The long-awaited Hendry Review gave the thumbs-up to the lagoon in January but the UK government has yet to respond.

Mr Cairns said it was “down to the numbers” as to whether the project went ahead, and stressed the need for it to deliver good value to consumers, taxpayers and businesses.

Swansea West Labour MP Geraint Davies said Mr Cairns seemed to have “given up hope” but the Welsh Secretary shot back: “I would love this project to happen and I will do everything I can to make it happen.”

Cardiff North Labour MP Anna McMorrin sought to put him under pressure, asking if he had “the ear of your Prime Minister”.

Mr Cairns insisted the government had a good record.

He said: “I think our record on this is strong because you’ll remember following the 2015 general election, after the election it was the UK government that granted the planning permission for it, which again showed a will to try to make this fit in every way. Of course, this has got to be value for money... because ultimately it’s consumers and taxpayers that have to pay for it.

“So on that basis we’re doing everything possible to make it fit but it’s got to be down to the numbers eventually, otherwise it’s your constituents and my constituents and business [that] will pay the price.”

Mr Cairns raised concerns about the impact of high energy costs on the steel industry, saying: “You’ll be more than aware that this is adjacent to Tata in Port Talbot,who 18 months ago was in a very difficult situation and one of their core challenges to the government was energy cost. Well, none of us should want any policy that adds to energy costs for consumers and in particular business, who are the wealth creators.”

Ms McMorrin insisted there were wider factors to take into account.

She said: “You talk the talk as a government but you don’t walk the walk when it comes to renewables. We need to see action.

“Yes, it’s about energy costs. It’s also about energy security, and it’s also about tackling climate change.”

Focusing her fire on Mr Cairns, she said: “[I] think your commitment to Wales is slightly in doubt because as Secretary of State you have consistently shied away from investing in Wales, from [the] tidal lagoon, [to] renewables, to devolving [Air Passenger Duty] and electrification and as a Swansea Valley boy are you not embarrassed now to go back home at Christmas?

“I would be very embarrassed to go back home having shied away from that commitment.”

Mr Cairns retorted: “Absolutely, I reject everything you say on that and I can point to the record of the government.”

He said Wales had become the “fastest-growing part of the UK outside of London”.

The MP also pointed to the coming abolition of the Severn Crossing tolls and urged the Welsh Government to make progress on the proposed M4 relief road, warning of congestion around Newport.

He said: “I think there’s a risk of a good news story becoming not such a good news story in that the delays around the Brynglas tunnels could cause reputational damage to south Wales... I wish the Welsh Government would get on with it.”