“This is a thorough and comprehensive report on the lessons that can be learned for the UK’s nuclear industry. It will help ensure that our regulatory regime remains robust, and that the nuclear industry remains committed to continuous improvement for all existing and future facilities.”

Rt. Hon Chris Huhne, MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, In response to Dr Weightman's report, October 11 2011

“I remain confident that our UK nuclear facilities have no fundamental safety weaknesses. The Office for Nuclear Regulation already requires protection of nuclear sites against the worst-case scenarios that are predictable for the UK. But we are not complacent. Our philosophy is one of continuous improvement. No matter how high our standards, the quest for improvement must never stop. We will ensure lessons are learned from Fukushima. Action has already been taken in many cases, with work under way to further enhance safety at UK sites.“
Dr Mike Weightman, Chief Nuclear Inspector, Office for Nuclear Regulation, October 11 2011

“Nuclear is the cheapest low-carbon source of electricity around, so it can keep bills down and the lights on.
… around 5,000 jobs could be on offer at each of the eight sites we listed as suitable for development… all parts of the country could gain from a nuclear resurgence. We must go forward with new nuclear. We will be a darker, less prosperous nation without it.”
Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, NNB 2011

"There is an important place for new nuclear stations in our energy mix as long as there is no public subsidy."
Rt Hon. Chris Huhne, MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Liberal Democrat Party Conference, September 2010

"The coalition agreement clearly sees a role for new nuclear, provided that there is no public subsidy.  From the commitment I’ve seen from the nuclear industry, I have no doubt that the industry can rise to the challenge."
Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, June 16 2010

"The threat of climate change means we need to make a transition from a system that relies heavily on high-carbon fossil fuels, to a radically different system that includes nuclear, renewable and clean coal power."
Rt Hon. Ed Miliband, MP, Leader of the Labour Party, writing as Secretary of State for DECC, Consultation on draft National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure, December 2009

"Including nuclear power in the energy mix will make a low-carbon and energy-secure future easier to achieve."
Chris Goodall, Green Party Parliamentary candidate, Independent, February 23 2009

"I feel very strongly that we need to reduce our dependence on imported energy, much of which comes from some of the world’s most unstable regions.  That means nuclear power, a greater use of liquefied natural gas, and more research into predictable renewable sources such as tidal power and into carbon capture and ‘clean coal’ technologies."
Dan Byles MP, Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, June 2010

"The Government has today concluded that nuclear should have a role to play in the generation of electricity, alongside other low carbon technologies."
Rt Hon. Gordon Brown, MP, then Prime Minister, DECC, Meeting the Energy Challenge – A White Paper on Nuclear Power, January 2008

"Nuclear is not the only answer - more renewables and clean coal will also be needed - and nuclear's proven ability to generate low carbon electricity means it can play a valuable role."
Richard Lambert, CBI Director General, January 2008

"Nuclear power, as part of a balanced and mixed supply of energy, is essential for this country if we are to have energy security at a time when traditional sources are threatened or in short supply.  To remain economically competitive, we must be able to ensure a consistent and affordable supply of power reaches our businesses."
David Frost, British Chambers of Commerce, January 2008

"Nuclear power is our only workable low-carbon energy source."
Environmentalist George Monbiot, Guardian, October 19 2009

"The issue that has primarily changed my mind is the absolute imperative of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.  Fifteen years ago we knew less about climate change.  We knew it was likely to happen, we didn’t quite realise how fast.  What’s happened is that we’ve woken up to the very serious nature of the climate-change problem, the essential task of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the need to decarbonise electricity production over the course of the next 20 to 30 years."
Lord (Chris) Smith of Finsbury, Chairman, Environment Agency, Independent, February 23, 2009