Blair irresponsible on nuclear power - Baker

11.28.00am GMT Tue 22nd Nov 2005

Norman Baker MP

Norman Baker MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, today called the Prime Minister "irresponsible" following his comments at the House of Commons Liaison Committee.

Tony Blair today said people were coming round to the nuclear option was "because the facts have changed", but Parliamentary Answers from the DTI to Mr Baker state that:

· They have made no assessment of the lifecycle carbon emissions of a nuclear fission plant;

· Undertaken no research to establish the full life cycle cost of nuclear fission;

· Has not made its own estimates of the construction costs of nuclear power facilities.

Commenting, Mr Baker said:

"Nuclear fuel has just presented taxpayers with a £50bn bill to clear up some of the nuclear waste we already have, and there are vast amounts for which there is no solution in sight.

"Tony Blair is completely irresponsible to base his decision on so little evidence, and it is outrageous that he should establish an energy review which appears to serve no purpose other than to provide him with some support for his already formed opinion."