BRITISH ENERGY: SAY NO TO NEW BAIL-OUT
Responding to reports that troubled nuclear power provider, British Energy, has asked the government to increase its current loan from the taxpayer, Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, is writing to DTI Secretary Patricia Hewitt to urge her to refuse any loan increase. Mr Bruce said:
"It is time to draw a line under the British Energy debacle. The Government should refuse to any loan increase and place British Energy into administration.
"There is no reason to exempt the privatised nuclear power industry from the rigours of the market, especially when British Energy can't meet its reserve targets.
"It's about time the Government faces facts: the British taxpayer doesn't have bottomless pockets with which to fund nuclear power forever.
"The Government must manage its way out of the most costly experiment in energy production in Britain, which is currently draining Government budgets of £3bn a year in nuclear liability costs."