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UK Government's Energy Policy

May I offer clarification to the right hon. Gentleman? We are talking at cross-purposes when we could, in fact, be in agreement. First, I am assured that there is nothing to prevent a privately financed scheme from coming forward before 2015. Secondly, the company that believes it can deliver a Severn barrage as a commercially viable project without the investment of significant public funds claims to have the backing of middle east investors. The organisation includes the Halcrow group, Ove Arup, various solicitors and KPMG—the right hon. Gentleman knows many of the people involved who are in the public domain. There is no reason why the Government will not look at a private project, but I remind the right hon. Gentleman that there is uncertainty about how the scheme would comply with regulation, which would add to the cost and risk of construction. The scale and impact of the scheme would be far greater than those of La Rance and unprecedented in an environmentally friendly design project. There are many bridges to cross and he must not give the impression that the scheme has been cancelled. We will not put public money into the scheme, but there is nothing to prevent a consortium from coming forward before 2015.