To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the energy used in making safe an out-of-service nuclear power station and its associated nuclear waste has been factored into estimates of (a) its carbon impact and (b) its costs relative to other forms of energy. (104396)

The energy review report ‘The Energy Challenge’ published on 11 July 2006 drew on evidence from the Sustainable Development Commission, OECD and others to demonstrate that the full lifecycle release of carbon dioxide from nuclear power is similar to wind power, and much less than fossil fuel plant.

Any new nuclear power stations would be proposed, developed, constructed and operated by the private sector, who would also meet full decommissioning costs and their full share of long-term waste management costs. The Government do not take a view on the future relative costs of different generating technologies. It is for the private sector to make these judgements, within the market framework established by Government. However, for the purposes of the energy review report, the Government carried out a cost-benefit analysis of nuclear new build which took into account the costs associated with decommissioning and waste management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he expects the proportion of electricity generated in nuclear power plants by 2020 to be (a) higher, (b) lower or (c) roughly the same as today. (104186)

It is not for Government to decide on how much nuclear generating capacity there should be in the UK. Any new nuclear power stations would be proposed, developed, constructed and operated by the private sector, which would meet full decommissioning and their full share of long-term waste management costs.