A new bill will seek to put in place the framework for a new generation of nuclear power stations, while also boosting private sector investment in renewable technology.

The government's commitment to nuclear power as a necessary part of the energy mix has shown no signs of weakening under Gordon Brown.

The Energy Bill will set the framework for a fund into which private operators will pay hundreds of millions of pounds to cover the future cost of decommissioning power stations and disposing of waste.

The last major piece of energy legislation was the relatively recent Energy Act 2004, reflecting the speed of change in this area of policy.

With imported gas expected to meet up to 80 per cent of the UK's demand by 2020, the Energy Bill will seek to encourage private sector investment in offshore gas supply.

It will also promote investment in carbon capture and storage, a new technology which involves trapping carbon dioxide leaving power stations.

The Bill will "strengthen" the renewables obligation, a mandatory requirement on UK electricity suppliers to source more power from renewables - currently rising to 15 per cent by 2015.

The Bill is now the responsibility of the Department for Business and Regulatory Reform following the demise of the Department of Trade and Industry.