Business secretary John Hutton has said that the UK must "significantly expand" its nuclear power production to protect national security and combat climate change.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme Hutton said that reactors have been proved safe and delaying using them more widely could be disastrous for the environment.

Hutton added that if the UK were to become a world leader in developing nuclear technology, it could earn £20bn for the wider economy.

He said: "I think the technology is proven, not just in terms of producing electricity, but in terms of safety as well.

"In terms of waste disposal, I don't think there is an argument about how it should be done - there is an argument about where it should be done.

"If we are really serious about our climate change responsibilities, if we want Britain to be as energy-independent as possible, then I think we should be talking about a significant expansion over and above the current contribution that nuclear power makes.

"It is currently about 20 per cent. I think that it should be significantly more than that."

In a speech to trade unionists later, Hutton will say that the UK could become "the gateway to a new nuclear renaissance across Europe" and a world leader in nuclear technology.

He is set to tell the Unite union: "There has never been a greater global demand for finance, equipment and skills to build and operate nuclear power stations.

"I want Britain to be leading the world in the development and application of this new generation of low carbon power technology.

"Just replacing our existing capacity alone will equate to three times the size of the project to build Terminal 5 at Heathrow.

"It could represent around £20bn worth of business for UK companies."