Treasury Committee to quiz Crown Estates over tidal energy delays after questions raised by local MP

12.00.00am GMT Thu 10th Dec 2009

The Treasury Select Committee has announced it going to initiate an inquiry into the Crown Estate's development of tidal energy after delays in pushing forward the industry in the Pentland Firth.

The mini inquiry was deemed necessary after the Exchequer Secretary was questioned by Far North MP John Thurso and acknowledged that the Treasury allowed the Crown Estate to operate at arms length with little oversight. The Exchequer secretary also admitted she had not had any contact with Crown Estate commissioners over the development of an offshore renewables industry.

John Thurso MP had long been critical of delays, fearing that the UK would lose its lead to other countries and that vital significant investment would instead go abroad.

John said: "I believe there is a huge potential for tidal it's something where we're still in the lead. This is a real opportunity to establish the UK as a world head-quarters of tidal energy.

"If we potter along in our usual British way, what will happen is the Canadians, the Americans, the Australians will just get on and do it. We'll be the also-rans and end up importing it from them."

"It is absolutely incredible that the minister responsible for the Crown Estates has never had discussions regarding an industry that is going to be worth billions of pounds and employ tens of thousands of people with the government agency that is largely responsible for making it happen.

"I have long suspected that Treasury ministers have taken little or no interest in the commissioners so long as they turn in a healthy profit."

The inquiry will look at how effective the Crown Estate is in rising to its challenges including the development of renewable industries. It will also look at how well the Estates fulfil their objectives: benefiting the taxpayer by paying their revenues into the treasury and increasing the value of the estate and its income.

The Treasury Select Committee will submit a report in the next few months which the Treasury will have to respond to.