Put n-power first, Osborne urged

In a letter to the Chancellor, Sir William McAlpine, chairman of the pressure group Supporters of Nuclear Energy (SONE) describes the present energy policy as an imposition on consumers and industry and as failing in its objectives. Sir William said : “We welcome your determination that Britain should not impose costs on consumers and industry that exceed those of our competitors in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and your reduction of some subsidies.”

He said: “The sheer disparity between the cost of other sources – and especially offshore wind – and nuclear is startling when nuclear can reasonably be claimed to provide security of low carbon supply at affordable cost.

“We suggest this shows that reform of energy policy has a long way to go before it is in a pos- ition to achieve its declared objective.

Sir William added: “In our view, the evidence requires nuclear power to be at the forefront of electricity supply policy.”