Blair Bid for New Nuclear Power Plants

TONY BLAIR has been urged by his chief scientific adviser to back the building of new nuclear power stations to secure energy needs and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

He is to push for quicker planning procedures so the first stations could be under construction in less than 10 years.

Stations are expected to be built on existing sites to reduce public opposition and speed up planning procedures.

Chief scientific adviser Sir David King said the decline in nuclear power was contributing to failure to meet the government’s targets on reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.

The Engineering Employers’ Federation backed the move.

CBI Director General Sir Digby Jones said: “Nuclear power’s position as a reliable, low-carbon energy source is without doubt, but understandably concerns exist about costs and waste.”