Nuclear subsidy 'not a concern' for public, says poll

According to the poll of over 2,000 members of the public, 46 per cent of the public said they want new nuclear power stations to be built in the UK, compared with 29 per cent who do not.

In a statement, Dr Tim Fox, head of Energy and Environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said, ‘For years now government has been reluctant to offer nuclear power developers an overt subsidy, partly out of fear of the public back-lash. These poll results show that these fears could be unwarranted.

‘The future of the UK new nuclear build programme is currently on a knife-edge. Without an agreed guaranteed commercially attractive long-term price for the electricity from new nuclear plants, and a suitable source of investment finance, there can be no progress on building new UK reactors.

‘Government needs to provide more leadership and help on financing nuclear power if they are serious about a new build programme in the UK and we are to see the development of nuclear plants at sites like Hinkley Point, Sizewell and Wylfa. These poll results suggest that the public want government to take decisive action to support nuclear power.