asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many years he estimates it will be before wave power contributes the same amount of energy to the national grid as one 1,500 MGW nuclear power station.

Wave power research is still in the experimental stage, although progress has been encouraging. The feasibility of a number of devices is being examined. The present programme aims to prove the technology as rapidly as possible. Thereafter the rate of installation will depend on the economics of wave power compared with other energy sources available at that time.