MPs to quiz energy bosses on nuclear future

Bosses of the top energy firms are set to be called before a committee of MPs amid concerns that Britain’s nuclear new build programme is under threat.

Last month, energy firms E.ON and RWE Npower put their nuclear joint-venture Horizon Nuclear Power up for sale.

A third energy firm, Centrica, has threatened to pull out of its joint venture with EDF to build nuclear plants in Somerset and Suffolk, the Financial Times reported last week.

Plus, the construction sector has urged the government to speed up its plans for reform of the electricity market to give investors the certainty to come forward press on with building the plants.

Tim Yeo, chair of the energy and climate change select committee, told the FT he expected to call the major energy bosses and energy minister Charles Hendry to give evidence on the UK’s nuclear future after the committee meets today.