Nuclear Power — Will be addressed on its own merits — 22 Oct 2002 at 22:00

The majority of MPs voted for the motion:^[1]

• This House
• welcomes the publication earlier this year of the Performance and Innovation Unit's review of the strategic issues surrounding energy policy for Great Britain up to 2050;^[2]
• welcomes the Government's commitment to publish an Energy White Paper in the New Year setting out a long-term framework for energy policy following its recent extensive and innovative public consultation on energy issues;
• understands that British Energy's problems, and those of certain other players, are about companies rather than a way of generating electricity and welcomes the speed with which the market can respond to protect the interests of consumers;
• recognizes that the future of nuclear power in the UK is a question that has to be addressed on its own merits, not in the light of a particular set of circumstances surrounding a particular private sector company;
• further recognizes that it is not the responsibility of Government to bail out electricity suppliers unless it threatens safety or security of electricity supplies; and
• welcomes the work Government has done to promote sustainable energy use in terms of energy use reductions and to promote the development of renewable energy.

This replaced a previous motion that had been voted down by the majority of MPs.^[3]

• [1] Brian Wilson MP, House of Commons, 22 October 2002
• [2] Energy Review, Performance and Innovation Unit, February 2002
• [3] Nuclear Power - Not competitive - rejected, House of Commons, 2002

Debate in Parliament | Historical Hansard | Source |