Nuclear Energy

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 11:39 am on 31 March 2009.

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Photo of Albert Owen Albert Owen Labour, Ynys Môn 11:39, 31 March 2009

I represent a halfway house between the last two speakers, because I am pro-nuclear and pro-renewables. I see no contradiction in that stance if we are to meet our two targets of a low-carbon economy and a secure supply.

The next generation of new nuclear stations is starting a little too slowly for my liking, but there are good reasons for that. I congratulate Mr. Heathcoat-Amory on rightly saying in his opening remarks that we need to debate this matter openly and honestly; in the past the pro-nuclear lobby has had a tendency not to do so. The nuclear industry, in many ways, speaks in jargon that the public do not understand and we need to change that as well. When we talk about fast breeders and various other issues, the public do not engage and do not understand the benefits that new nuclear can bring to industry and the economy.

Nuclear energy in my part of the world provides an awful lot of highly skilled and well-paid jobs with transferable skills. I want that to continue, which is why I have been campaigning since becoming a Member of Parliament in 2001 for new nuclear to be on the agenda as part of a rich portfolio of energy sources. Under Conservative Governments—I mention this because the right hon. Member for Wells referred to it—in Wylfa, in my constituency of Ynys Môn, land was set aside in the early to mid-1980s for the development of a second nuclear power station. That was put off for various reasons, in my opinion.

First, in respect of public opinion, which the right hon. Gentleman mentioned, there were fears and perceptions of high risks in the nuclear industry. If we look at it rationally and consider other sources of energy, nuclear is a safe industry. In respect of fatalities, the number of workers killed in the nuclear industry is far smaller than in other industries, including hydro, coal and gas. The public's perception about nuclear being dangerous is now being put to one side when people have an open, honest debate about it.

Secondly, successive Governments have not handled the waste issue well. I support the deep burial chambers, such as the ones going ahead in Finland, although those are late. We could have done that a lot sooner and gone ahead and had safe disposal of nuclear waste.

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Chris Beazer
Posted on 1 Apr 2009 3:31 pm (Report this annotation)

If there is to be secure supply for nuclear power, where are the uranium mines that we have in the UK?