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| Judge rejects nuclear power plan | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Greenpeace has won its High Court bid to make the government rethink its programme to build a new generation of nuclear power stations. | Greenpeace has won its High Court bid to make the government rethink its programme to build a new generation of nuclear power stations. |
| A judge ruled that the consultation process before making the decision last year had been "seriously flawed" and "procedurally unfair". | A judge ruled that the consultation process before making the decision last year had been "seriously flawed" and "procedurally unfair". |
| Greenpeace said the government should "go back to the drawing board". | Greenpeace said the government should "go back to the drawing board". |
| Ministers had said the energy review was only part of an ongoing process which would ensure full consultation. | |
| 'Updating' | 'Updating' |
| Greenpeace's Emma Gibson told Sky News: "The government should be going back to the drawing board and looking at how to meet our energy needs and cut our carbon emissions. | Greenpeace's Emma Gibson told Sky News: "The government should be going back to the drawing board and looking at how to meet our energy needs and cut our carbon emissions. |
| "That's not going to be through nuclear power. It's through updating our energy system and increasing our use of renewables." | "That's not going to be through nuclear power. It's through updating our energy system and increasing our use of renewables." |
| The government has been shown up as fundamentally deceitful Alan Duncan, Conservatives | |
| In 2003, an energy white paper described nuclear power as an "unattractive option". | In 2003, an energy white paper described nuclear power as an "unattractive option". |
| It added: "Before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there will need to be the fullest possibly public consultation and the publication of a further white paper setting out our proposals." | It added: "Before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there will need to be the fullest possibly public consultation and the publication of a further white paper setting out our proposals." |
| The government launched a fresh energy review in January 2006, and after public consultation published a report, The Energy Challenge, which said "new nuclear power stations would make a significant contribution to meeting our energy policy goals". | |
| In court, Greenpeace said the consultation had not fulfilled the promise to carry out "the fullest public consultation". | In court, Greenpeace said the consultation had not fulfilled the promise to carry out "the fullest public consultation". |
| It complained that there had been a failure to present clear proposals and information on key issues, such as disposal of radioactive waste and building costs. | It complained that there had been a failure to present clear proposals and information on key issues, such as disposal of radioactive waste and building costs. |
| 'Radically wrong' | 'Radically wrong' |
| Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling, contesting the judicial review, argued that the energy review was only part of an ongoing process which would ensure full consultation. | Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling, contesting the judicial review, argued that the energy review was only part of an ongoing process which would ensure full consultation. |
| But Mr Justice Sullivan said "something has gone clearly and radically wrong". | But Mr Justice Sullivan said "something has gone clearly and radically wrong". |
| The consultation document had given every appearance of being simply an "issues paper". | The consultation document had given every appearance of being simply an "issues paper". |
| It had contained no actual proposals and the information given to consultees had been "wholly insufficient for them to make an intelligent response". | |
| The judge said information given on waste had been "not merely inadequate but also misleading". | |
| Fairness required that consultees should be given a proper opportunity to respond to that substantial amount of new material before any decision was taken. | |
| "There could be no proper consultation, let alone the fullest consultation, if the substance of these two issues was not consulted on before a decision was made," said the judge. | |
| "There was therefore procedural unfairness and a breach of Greenpeace's legitimate expectation that there would be the fullest consultation before a decision was taken." | |
| The judge granted what he called a "quashing order". | |
| Shadow trade and industry secretary Alan Duncan said: "This is an astonishing ruling. | |
| "What it really says is that the government has been shown up as fundamentally deceitful." | |
| The government says its proposals, including building more nuclear plants, will cut carbon emissions by 19 to 25 million tonnes by 2020, compared with projections based on current trends. | The government says its proposals, including building more nuclear plants, will cut carbon emissions by 19 to 25 million tonnes by 2020, compared with projections based on current trends. |
| In January, Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was important to ensure that the UK had a diverse energy supply, including nuclear power. | In January, Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was important to ensure that the UK had a diverse energy supply, including nuclear power. |
| "If we don't get these decisions right, and get them right quickly, we will pay a very heavy price in the future." | "If we don't get these decisions right, and get them right quickly, we will pay a very heavy price in the future." |
| A White Paper is expected to be published next month. | A White Paper is expected to be published next month. |