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Chris Huhne has denied his personal historical opposition to nuclear power would prevent new nuclear power stations being built.
Speaking during energy questions in the Commons this morning the energy secretary said that the government would remove all "unnecessary obstacles" to the construction of nuclear power plants but would not provide public subsidy of any project.
Huhne was responding to Labour MP Ian Lavery who said there was a "huge conflict" between the Conservatives and Lib Dems on the issue of nuclear power.
The Wansbeck MP quoted the energy secretary as having said nuclear energy as a "tried, tested and failed source of energy with huge costs and huge risks" which Lavery argued was "in stark prospect to policy of the Tory government".
"What impact these differences within the Coalition will have on future energy requirements of UK and in particular to the development of new nuclear plants?" he asked.
But Huhne said it was "precisely because there were clear differences" between the Coalition partners that they had dealt with it when drawing up their agreement.
"We set out very clearly there will be framework where there will be no public subsidy but if investors come forward with proposals they will be able to get that through the House of Commons without any doubt at all," he said.
And he said Lavery had misrepresented his position on nuclear.
"As an economist I am sceptical about the economics of nuclear power," Huhne said. "But recognise it is up to investors to make that decision."
He also rejected the accusation by shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband that his own personal opposition to nuclear power had scuppered Labour's planned loan to a nuclear energy engineering firm.
"The loan to Sheffield Forgemasters was not a commercial loan. If it was a commercial loan it would have been arranged through the banks and not by the government," he said.
"It was precisely because of the public subsidy element, and the fact that the public subsidy element was not affordable, that the government decided not to proceed with it."
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
PCAH (Parents Concerned About Hinkley)
2nd Jul 2010 at 8:37 am