Dominic Raab
Main Page: Dominic Raab (Conservative - Esher and Walton)
Chris Huhne
The carbon price floor is designed to encourage low-carbon sources of energy and it is not in any way designed to attract particular support for one low-carbon source or another. One could equally argue that it is benefiting renewables. That is why it will lead to the switching effect that we find desirable, so that we rely more on low carbon than on high carbon. In addition, the hon. Gentleman will note that the Treasury is considering the impact on existing operators and will keep that under review.
Mr Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton) (Con)
This week, the former UK chief scientific adviser Sir David King has said that the real lesson from Japan was that
“nuclear power is even safer than we thought…by far the safest method of power generation”.
Will the Secretary of State be mindful of that advice and does he agree with that assessment?
Chris Huhne
I am mindful of it. That is an interesting argument which has been made in many quarters. It is absolutely crucial, comparing the debate in this country with those in other countries such as Germany, that we should base it on the facts and the evidence. That is precisely why I asked Dr Mike Weightman to produce a report—so that we can have a sensible and measured debate based on the facts and the evidence.