NIA - The Nuclear Industry Association - Energy tops the agenda at the party conferences

Energy tops the agenda at the party conferences

NIA's work at Labour Party conference in Brighton kicked off with a standing room only fringe meeting, which was followed immediately afterwards by an encouraging statement from the Prime Minister himself.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks addressing NIA's extremely well attended fringe meeting at Labour conference

During his keynote speech to conference, Tony Blair called for "an assessment of all options, including civil nuclear power."

Speakers at the fringe included Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks MP and Deputy Director General of the Transport & General Workers Union, Jack Dromey. Interest in the industry was palpable - when we arrived at our 'Preparing for the next generation' fringe meeting, we were surprised to find the room full. The room could comfortably accommodate 50 - we managed to squeeze in about 80. By the time John Robertson MP, Chair of the all party group on nuclear began the proceedings, we were turning people away. Figureheads in the energy industry, such as David Green, Chief Executive of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy, were lined up in the corridor round the corner listening in, while others, such as Baroness Young of the Environment Agency and journalists from The Times, The Financial Times and The Independent had managed to secure a seat in the room.

Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks on the NIA stand at Labour Conference with NIA Chairman Philip Dewhurst and Chief Executive Keith Parker

Malcolm Wicks spoke of the need for a rational and open debate on the future of energy policy in the UK and indicated again the commitment of the Government to ensure nuclear energy would be considered as part of this process.

Following the Prime Minister's conference speech, NIA embarked on a series of press interviews, including statements to the print and broadcast media.

Wicks spoke at a series of events during the week, often highlighting that nuclear energy could not be avoided and assuring the audience that the review would be based on good science and a full public debate. He tried to encourage both sides to avoid scaremongering.

Tired but enthused after British Nuclear Group's Think while you Drink disco, we arrived at a full to capacity fringe meeting at 8am, organised by the Centre for Foreign Policy and sponsored by NIA. Malcolm Wicks MP spoke alongside Michael Meacher MP; Malcolm Grimston, Chatham House and Shimon Auwerbuch of the Centre for Foreign Policy. Meacher reiterated his concern that investing in nuclear would divert investment from renewables. The Minister supported the Prime Minister's call for an assessment of the options including nuclear, saying that it would be a shame for people, naturally inclined to caring about the environment, to deny what "may be, just may be, one of the major answers to the climate change challenge."

The rest of the day saw increased traffic to the NIA stand with Keith Parker and Philip Dewhurst stepping in to speak to BBC News 24, ITV West and the FT.

On the Wednesday evening, TUSNE and NIA hosted a dinner for MPs with yet another contribution from Malcolm Wicks. His comments included a warning that 'complacency' around the legacy issues - particularly waste - must be addressed by the industry as a whole.

John Thurso MP addressing a packed NIA/Centre for Reform meeting on the future of nuclear. Also pictured are Jeremy Nicholson (Energy Intensive Users), Sir Robert Smith (Lib Dem Shadow Energy Minister) and James Gurling (Centre for Reform)

The Liberal Democrat conference revealed a clear call for more information from the party, and a more open mind than has been seen in previous years on the subject of nuclear. Speaking at the NIA reception during the conference, Liberal Democrat science spokesman Dr Evan Harris MP conceded that if the development of renewable generation capacity did not progress fast enough, or if economic circumstances changed, his party would re-examine the case for nuclear power. Dr Harris said he recognised that climate change was a major problem. While he argued for a greater focus on renewable generation sources, he conceded that dealing with global warming was difficult without the nuclear option'. An extremely successful fringe meeting titled, "What role for nuclear?" was held by the Centre for Reform during the conference, and sponsored by NIA, with John Thurso MP arguing for a less emotive, more fact-based debate on energy. Liberal Democrat shadow Energy Minister, Sir Robert Smith, argued that energy efficiency and conservation should occupy a more prominent position on the political agenda.

Shadow Energy Minister Bernard Jenkin addressing the NIA reception at the Conservative Party Conference

Speaking at NIA's reception at the Conservative Party Conference, Bernard Jenkin MP, Shadow Minister for Energy, called on the Government to stop 'demonising' nuclear power and accept that it had an important role to play in guaranteeing the UK a low-carbon, secure energy supply.

Mr Jenkin said the Government was failing to secure any of the three pillars of a national energy supply, which were providing affordable electricity to domestic and commercial customers, ensuring security of supply and complying with environmental obligations.

This winter had seen considerable disruption to energy supply, carbon emission targets were being missed and the nuclear component of the UK's energy supply was in retreat, he added.

Stressing the need for bipartisan agreement on energy policy, he added: "We need to thank the nuclear industry for the contribution it has made to clean energy generation over the years. We need to stop demonising nuclear energy. We need to understand there is a big change coming in the Labour Party."

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