The NIA was again present at the Labour Party conference this autumn. As the trade body for the nuclear industry it is important to maintain the profile of the industry with government and counter anti-nuclear lobbying from 'green' groups. To this end the NIA had a stall in the conference exhibition area, which was well received by delegates.

As part of the conference fringe the NIA hosted a meeting focussing on the Bill to set up the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The meeting, chaired by NIA Chairman Tony Cooper was addressed by Trade and Industry Select Committee Chairman Martin O'Neill MP; Prospect National Secretary Dai Hudd; and Malcolm Grimston of Imperial College. Mr O'Neill expressed his scepticism of the ability of renewables to meet a significant proportion of the UK's energy needs. However the nuclear industry had to deal once and for all with the waste issue as well as being more transparent in order to win over the public before any new nuclear power stations can be considered. The event was well attended and several delegates who were previously hostile went away having changed their mind over the need for nuclear as part of our electricity generating mix.

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt on the NIA stand with Kate Amos from the NIA