ROTHERHAM ENERGY SEMINAR

That this House welcomes the statement from the one day energy seminar held at Rotherham on Friday 27th October sponsored by Yorkshire Coal Task Force, Nuclear Free Local Authorities and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council affirming that all forms of energy have consequences for the environment; recognises that the energy economy must be diverse, flexible and secure; believes that clean coal technology with carbon capture and storage can provide the most significant means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions globally; urges the Government to take steps to ensure that the indigenous UK coal industry can continue to contribute to security of supply in a balanced energy market; considers the conclusion in the Energy Review that new nuclear generating capacity is required to be premature; and calls on the Government to confirm that before any proposal to build a new nuclear station is made it will provide for a joint public inquiry based on the powers contained in Regulation 17 of the Justification of Practice Involving Ionising Radiation Regulations, section 14(1) and (28) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, section 24(2) of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and Schedule 8 of the Electricity Act 1989.