Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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2003 (and previous) press releases
Blatant Favouritism: Government Spends 1,773% more on Nuclear Power than Renewable Energy
Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary Norman Baker has obtained new figures which reveal the government is spending a staggering 1,773% more money on nuclear power than renewable energy.
The grant given to the nuclear industry by the government has always been significantly more than that given to renewable energy. However, since 1997 Labour's spending on the nuclear industry has increased by 237%:
Nuclear energy
1997-98 £94.3m
2000-01 £223.4m
In addition British Energy also has a credit facility of £650m provided by the government. This in sharp contrast spending on renewable energy, which includes wind, solar, wave, geothermal and hydro power has risen by 200%:
Renewable energy
1997-98 £6.81m
2000-01 £13.6m
There is also a sharp spending contrast dating back to the 1970's:
Nuclear energy
1975-76 £43m
Renewable energy
1975-76 £0
The government gives an annual grant and grant-in-aid to the UK Atomic Energy Authority and BNFL. The amount given has also risen sharply under this Labour Government from £199m in 1997-98 to £311m in 2001-02. BNFL's total expenditure in the same period has risen from £1,733m to £2,694m.
The DTI also disclosed to Mr Baker that the total undiscounted cost of dealing with the nuclear liabilities of BNFL and UK Atomic Energy Agency was estimated to be £47.9 billion.
Speaking about the spending contrast between nuclear energy and renewables, Norman Baker says:
"This Labour Government clearly favours nuclear power over renewable alternatives. This is reflected in the year-on-year increase in spending on the nuclear industry which appears to have the Government's wholehearted support."
"This government cannot be trusted on the environment. Ministers pay lip service to renewable energy but with no real results. I would like to see investment in renewable forms of energy greatly increased along with tangible results. I urge the government to heed its own rhetoric on sustainable development and divert money away from nuclear power to alternative sources of energy."