Sir, You suggest (report, September 14; see also letters, September 16) that ministers have recently been advised that nuclear power will have to provide half of Britain’s electricity to cut greenhouse gases by 2050. That is completely untrue.

The analysis you quote was produced and published at the time of the energy White Paper 19 months ago. Not new work but very old news. This background analysis looked at some 25 different scenarios for meeting our target of a 60 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. Only some included new nuclear build.

Our priority is energy efficiency and renewable energy. We have no proposals now for building new nuclear power stations but at some point in the future new nuclear build might be necessary if we are to meet our carbon targets. Before any decision is taken on this there would need to be the fullest public consultation and the publication of a White Paper setting out the Government’s proposals.

Current economics of new nuclear build make it an unattractive option and there are important issues around the legacy of nuclear waste. We are confident that renewable energy will provide a significant and growing contribution to Britain’s energy needs.

Yours sincerely,
PATRICIA HEWITT,
Department of Trade and Industry,
1 Victoria Street, SW1H 0ET.
September 14.

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