§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the total cost of nuclear production. [9941]
§ Mr. WilsonI have been asked to reply.
There is a range of estimates for the cost of producing nuclear power. The performance and innovation unit at the Cabinet Office is currently producing a report on the UK's energy policy and is looking at the cost of potential future energy options, including new nuclear build.
594WIts estimates of the cost of producing nuclear-generated electricity can be found at:http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation/2001/energy/2050.pdf.
Nuclear generators have also produced their own estimates of the cost of producing electricity from new nuclear power stations. Both British Energy and BNFL have made submissions to the PIU and these are on the PIU website.
The PIU is continuing to discuss cost estimates with the generators.