UK Nuclear Energy Programme Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate

UK Nuclear Energy Programme

Nigel Evans Excerpts
Monday 21st October 2013

(11 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text
Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The taxpayer is not subsidising this, so the hon. Lady’s question is not relevant.

Nigel Evans Portrait Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Ind)
- Hansard - -

Many converts become zealots to the cause. May I encourage the Secretary of State to be turbo-charged in his zealotry for nuclear energy in the future so that we can have more announcements like today’s? Anything that makes us less reliant on imported energy, particularly French nuclear energy, has got to be a good thing, and anything that protects England’s green and pleasant land from the invasion of yet more wind turbines has got to be a good thing.

Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The hon. Gentleman was doing so well. I have to tell him that there are zealots on all sides of this argument, as I have found, which is why I take, I think, a more balanced, pragmatic approach in favour of a mixed, diversified electricity supply focused on low carbon. I am a zealot not about nuclear, onshore or any particular renewable technology; I am a zealot about climate change. That is what every Member needs to be a zealot about. Climate change is one of the big challenges for this political generation, and we have to face up to it, so I plead guilty to being a zealot about tackling climate change.