Nuclear power and Sizewell debate

The Secretary of State for Energy moved a motion welcoming the decision to give consent to the construction of the Sizewell-B PWR station. The advantages of nuclear energy, summarized in the motion, are in a diversity of energy supply including coal, gas, oil and nuclear power, the provision of cheap and efficient electricity afforded by nuclear generation and the employment it provides. An amendment to the motion provided the opportunity to hold a debate on the decision. The Secretary of State mentioned that very little opposition had arisen either from the Opposition parties in Parliament or from the public. The debate ranged over the nuclear policies of the Labour and Alliance opposition parties, the US nuclear power programme, the Soviet programme following Chernobyl, energy conservation and renewable energy sources, nuclear waste disposal, the economics and safety of the Sizewell B reactor. The debate which lasted about 2 1/2 hours is reported verbatim. The amendment was not approved, the main motion was passed, i.e. the House welcomed the decision to allow the Sizewell-B PWR to be built. (UK)