Electricity Market Reform

Martin Horwood Excerpts

Thursday 16th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. I ask again for short questions and short answers. Given that oral questions preceded the statement, I think we can assume that Members remember what was said.

[Martin Horwood (Cheltenham) (LD)]

Given the fresh security concerns about nuclear power, its notorious inflexibility and intermittency and the toxic legacy it will leave future generations for 1,000 years, should my right hon. Friend not explore a levy on nuclear to balance any hidden—even if unspecific—windfall subsidy, especially to existing nuclear power stations, which may come about through the reforms he has described?

[Chris Huhne]

My hon. Friend knows very well that our policy is no subsidy to nuclear. We are not intending to impose additional levies on nuclear, but the no subsidy policy certainly encompasses the idea that if there are uncertainties they have to be met in the payments made, for example, on waste and decommissioning.