What a surprise.
I have been hard on Chris Huhne* (see below) because of his apparent about-turn on nuclear power. His actions have surpassed his words.
The Labour government agreed to provide insurance to the nuclear power industry at the tax payers' expense. I had an adjournment debate to drag Labour minister Mike O'Brian over the coals for this obvious nuclear subsidy. He defended it with a manic irrational rant.
Chris Huhne has now said. “One of the things the coalition agreed with some passion in the current circumstances of fiscal restraint was that there will be no public subsidy for nuclear power.” This was precisely my point. Dare I raise one small cheer for Chris Huhne? The rear of the pantomime horse is not delivering only the things that rear ends always deliver.
There may be a problem. The head of the American Company that secured the sumptuous £13 billion contract to clear up the nuclear mess at Sellafield had other ideas. In answer to a question from nuclear specialist David Lowry he said that he would not have accepted the contract if he was liable to £1 billion liability for a nuclear accident. Chris Huhne may have difficulties in changing the deal.
The taxpayers have shelled out £billions in nuclear subsidies for 50 years and should not be saddled with additional vast commitments, especially when there are clean better value alternatives.
Good luck to Chris Huhne.
From Hansard- 16th December 2010.
Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab) rose—
Mr Speaker: With reference to Harlow, England or both?
Paul Flynn:In order to inform myself of the effects of the green deal on Harlow, I researched a website this morning, which states:
“The nuclear industry’s key skill over the past half-century has not been generating electricity, but extracting lashings of taxpayers’ money.”
That was on the website of someone called Chris Huhne. Does this person have any connection with the Secretary of State? Has he sold his principles for a Red Box?
Chris Huhne: The hon. Gentleman should be very aware that the coalition Government are committed to no public subsidy for the nuclear industry for some very good reasons, one of which is in the quotation that he so gracefully supplies to the House.
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