Wicks sets out nuclear challenge

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has urged the nuclear power industry to address potential issues raised from changes to licensing and planning, claiming that the Government will not ‘duck any difficult questions’ over security and environmental concerns over the sector.

Mr. Wicks’ comments follow similar statements earlier in the month over the level of safety and environmental investigation that nuclear would face prior to playing any widespread part in the UK’s energy policy.

"Today I issue a challenge to the nuclear industry. You are calling for greater certainty over licensing. You are calling for shorter planning processes. You are calling for the scope of planning inquiries to be restricted. But my challenge to you then is to show me how this might work in practice. How might you achieve these things while still maintaining the same high levels of scrutiny and safeguards we have now?” asked the Energy Minister at the British Nuclear Energy Society and European Nuclear Society Conference in London.

"There is another question that needs to be addressed. Given public concerns and suspicions, and at times distrust of past secrecy, how can we promote open debate about nuclear? If this review does find in favour of nuclear it's not simply a question of giving it a green light. We would not duck any of these difficult questions,” he added.