Tony Blair signalled on Tuesday that Britain may have to build a new generation of nuclear power stations to meet the challenge of climate change.

Appearing before a committee of senior MPs, he disclosed that America was pressing Britain to look again at the nuclear option, including a new generation of stations that some claim will be safer and cheaper. Britain would have to take "some very difficult decisions", the prime minister said.

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

Geraint Day, environment policy analyst at the Institute of Directors, said: "The government should proceed with its white paper intention of having a full public consultation and debate around nuclear power. It is not a case of simply going for one particular measure. A diversity of energy sources are surely required. It is also about ensuring that options are kept open and that people and businesses in the UK can look forward to security of energy supply."

Forum Response: Institute of Electrical Engineers

A spokesman for the IEE told ePolitix.com: "The IEE welcomes the renewed interest that the prime minister, and the minister for energy, Stephen Timms, has shown in nuclear power as a means of producing a lower carbon fuel economy. Given the increasing uncertainty in global gas and oil prices and the intermittent nature of wind, the IEE is convinced that the nuclear option must have a contribution to make to future price stability and security of supply.