Nuclear will be a stealth tax on every home in Crawley

9.05.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Jul 2006

Responding to the publication of the Government's Energy Review, Edward Davey MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary said "By picking the nuclear option the Government are imposing a stealth tax on every home. Every nuclear power station ever built has needed public subsidies and government guarantees."

"The Government's belief that nuclear can now survive without a rigged market flies in the face of the recent evidence from the USA and Finland. Deciding to create more nuclear waste, when we're still not sure where to put the waste from the last 50 years, is utterly irresponsible. With nuclear decommissioning and waste disposal costs already approaching £100 billion, this proposal is also financially reckless."

Chernobyl - one catastrophic reason not to build more nuclear power stations

"If the Government invested more in energy efficiency and renewable technologies, along with support for local combined heat and power and microgeneration and clean coal technology, then new nuclear build would not be necessary. Britain should set a lead for the world in creating a low carbon, non-nuclear future."

Notes:

Proposals for a low carbon non-nuclear strategy have been detailed in a large number of reports including: Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2000), the Government's previous Energy Review (2003) and the Government's leading environmental advisers, the Sustainable Development Commission (2006)

Liberal Democrats have suggested, for example, a £1.5 billion investment in clean energy technology, by drawing down early the proceeds of future auctions of carbon emissions permits.

Liberal Democrats in Scotland have set a more demanding target for renewable energy than Westminster, and whilst Westminster is behind its target, Scotland is three years ahead on delivery.