17. What his policy is on the development of civil nuclear power. (4952)

The Government are committed to removing any unnecessary obstacles and allowing the construction of new nuclear power stations to contribute to our energy security and climate change goals, provided that they receive no public subsidy.

Two weeks after the decision was made, will the Secretary of State finally tell the people of Sheffield whether the decision on Sheffield Forgemasters was taken because of that coalition policy of no public subsidy? Yes or no?

I can assure the hon. Lady that the decision on Sheffield Forgemasters was taken because the particular project concerned was simply not affordable. I refer her to the earlier answer that I gave, stating that not just the current Chief Secretary to the Treasury but the former one has assured us that there is no money left.