Many thanks again to our MP, Steve Webb, for his continued support and assistance in these uncertain times. It is good to know we have a voice in the corridors of Whitehall!
In addition to forwarding our concerns to the Sec of State for DECC, Chris Huhne, Steve has commented on our thoughts on the Cons/Lib Dem Coalition agreement (see our blog entry dated 23rd May 2010) as follows:
"Re the many questions on the blog (!), it’s probably too early to answer many of them. For example, there is a commitment to scrapping the IPC, but not a specific date or detailed proposals for what will take its place (as this will require new primary legislation). However, given that Horizon have apparently put back their application re Oldbury for three years, then it’s hard to believe that the IPC will still be in place by then. I certainly agree with your point that it is bizarre that Horizon were the filter for the views of local residents!
You raise some fundamental points about the relative ‘power’ of the nuclear lobby as against private citizens, which is why democratic accountability, including at a local level is so crucial.
Re Lib Dem MPs being ‘gagged’ I think it’s important to recall that both the other two parties are pro nuclear. Being able to vote against nuclear in the House of Commons but being outvoted by 5 to 1 by Labour and the Tories combined was never going to achieve much for my constituents. Having a Lib Dem Secretary of State for energy and climate change and a commitment to no public subsidy offers a lot more representation in a very real way."
Thursday 27 May 2010
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As you say its great to now have Steve Webb in the corridors of power and a very well deserved appointment in my view.
ReplyDeleteI think the most powerful point Steve makes is the "no public subsidy" ruling.
It is my understanding (based admittedly on the presentations I have attended and what I have read) that Nuclear Power has never been cost effective to date. If that continues to be the case and it cannot be profitable without a government subsidy then NP is dead in the water in the UK. Will they stick to that ruling however if and when the predicted energy crunch really starts to bite????
My only fear is that the government starts fiddling with the carbon prices by putting in a min level of say 35 euro-----Would this be seen as a public subsidy?
ReplyDeleteAlso if the government does this and the European market price for carbon drops below this level---then who pays? the government or the taxpayer?---Could this be something like a non-public subsidy?---People who tinker with markets get burned.
What does anyone think?