To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost was of holding the public meeting on his Department's document on nuclear justification held at the Marriott Hotel, Marble Arch on 19 January 2010; and what consideration his Department gave to holding the meeting on its premises. (313272)

The cost of the public engagement event held as part of the consultation on my right hon. Friend's the Secretary of State's proposed regulatory justification decisions on new nuclear power stations has not been finalised but is likely to be £12,000. This includes venue hire, event organisation, an independent facilitator, recording of a transcript for publication on our website and, where appropriate, travel expense for some delegates. A Government venue was not chosen on this occasion as a hotel offered more flexible options for staging the event.