Nuclear is go

Coal and gas-fired stations emit large amounts of the climate-changing gas CO2, whereas nuclear power stations are virtually carbon-free. There is, however, much controversy over where the nuclear stations’ radioactive waste will be stored.

Business and energy secretary John Hutton told Parliament that the first of the plants could be built before 2020 and that they would not be subsidised by the government.

Nuclear power supplies about 18% of Britain’s electricity. However, the last of the existing plants is due to close by 2035.