Sheffield Forgemasters

Lord King of Bridgwater Excerpts

Thursday 22nd July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

I think that the noble Lord will well know the view of this Government—both sides of our Government—on nuclear power. It is something that we have considered long and hard and it was not an easy decision to take. For our party, we will always say that we will not subsidise the nuclear industry.

[Lord King of Bridgwater]

Does my noble friend not agree that, despite the outrage expressed on the other side of the House, the financial situation of Sheffield Forgemasters might have been much different if the previous Government had not dithered so consistently on the question of further nuclear power for this country, so that that company could have had decent orders instead of having to seek loans from the Government to bail itself out?

[Baroness Wilcox]

Of course I agree with my noble friend. I say again that Sheffield Forgemasters is an excellent example of a successful British manufacturing company and will, I am sure, continue to be so for a long time to come.