12. To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effect of Article 5(2) of the proposed European directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources on the Government's consideration of the options for renewable energy in the Severn estuary. (198422)

The Government's initial view is that this draft article is helpful for the UK as it gives partial credit to very large renewable projects with very long lead times and significant risks. It is not a reason for favouring one Severn estuary scheme over another. The Government intend to consider all potential technology and location options on a comparable basis.