12/03/2010

Lib Dems Call For Nuclear Inquiry

New nuclear power stations should justify their existence before a public inquiry, the Liberal Democrats have said.

Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, called on the Government to hold a forum into the ‘justification’ for new plants.

Last November the Government approved 10 sites in England and Wales for new nuclear power stations, most of them in locations where there are already plants.

Mr Hughes said: "It would be completely unacceptable for the Government to rush through new nuclear in its last days in office without a public inquiry.

"New reactors still haven’t been approved and no-one knows how we’re going to deal with the deadly waste."

The Lib Dem MP said Climate Secretary Ed Miliband has made himself "judge and jury" having already expressed a clear view on new nuclear.

"The Liberal Democrats are strongly opposed to a new generation of nuclear power. We must have an immediate full and transparent public inquiry before any decision is made," added Mr Hughes.

(PR)

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