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London (Reuters) - A report setting out Britain's future energy policy is likely to be delayed until early May following a court ruling against the government, Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said on Thursday. The "White Paper", containing Britain's plans for nuclear and other sources of energy, had been expected in mid-March. But the government's plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations were thrown into doubt on February 15 when a judge ruled that the public consultation process the government had carried out last year had been "inadequate" and "misleading". The government now aims to make a decision on the future of nuclear power in the autumn, Darling said in a statement to parliament. The court ruling, in a case brought by environmental group Greenpeace, was a setback for Prime Minister Tony Blair. He has madeit a priority of his final months in office to win backing for a new generation of nuclear power stations - a policy opposed by some members of his Labour Party. The crucial decisions on nuclear power are likely to fall to Blair's successor, expected to be finance minister Gordon Brown. Aides have said Brown believes that new nuclear power generation is a big part of the solution to future energy needs. Darling confirmed in a statement to parliament on Thursday that the government will not appeal against the court's ruling and will launch a new consultation. "It is now likely that the white paper and the new consultation will be published in early May. However, if it can be published before Easter, I will do so." he said. |
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