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| Groups pull out of nuclear debate | Groups pull out of nuclear debate |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Green groups have pulled out of the debate over whether the UK should build new nuclear power stations. | Green groups have pulled out of the debate over whether the UK should build new nuclear power stations. |
| Organisations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are unhappy with the way the government has presented the arguments to the public. | Organisations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are unhappy with the way the government has presented the arguments to the public. |
| As a result the groups are withdrawing from the process, which includes public meetings across the UK on Saturday. | As a result the groups are withdrawing from the process, which includes public meetings across the UK on Saturday. |
| Business and Enterprise Secretary John Hutton said he would be "extremely disappointed" if the groups pulled out. | Business and Enterprise Secretary John Hutton said he would be "extremely disappointed" if the groups pulled out. |
| 'Very critical' | |
| John Sauven, from Greenpeace, told BBC News: "It is up to the government to decide, is it going to carry out a proper public consultation or not? | |
| "Their own advisers have told them that this consultation should last for nine months, it should put all the information before the public, and they have been very critical of the way it is currently being carried out." | |
| The environmental organisations have formed a coalition, and branded the consultation process a "public relations stitch-up". | The environmental organisations have formed a coalition, and branded the consultation process a "public relations stitch-up". |
| A spokesman for Friends of the Earth said: "We do not feel it was a fair and full public debate, it was much more about promoting the arguments for nuclear power. | A spokesman for Friends of the Earth said: "We do not feel it was a fair and full public debate, it was much more about promoting the arguments for nuclear power. |
| "What we want to do is signal to the wider public and the government that we don't think this was a proper consultation." | "What we want to do is signal to the wider public and the government that we don't think this was a proper consultation." |
| The organisation said it would not be sending representatives to the meetings, and that it would make its case officially to the government. | The organisation said it would not be sending representatives to the meetings, and that it would make its case officially to the government. |
| 'Unprecedented consultation' | |
| Mr Hutton said: "We are doing all we possibly can to involve the public in coming to a view with government about what is in the long-term best interests of our country and our society and our environment. | |
| "I think the length of time we are putting into the consultation, the effort of trying to involve organisations like Greenpeace and others, has been unprecedented. | |
| "The issue about the quality of the consultation can't be judged simply by looking at the period of time that elapses from the beginning of it to the end of it. What matters is the input into it." | |
| Mr Hutton said the government had made a preliminary view about the nuclear issue but did not have a "closed mind". | |
| The government's Energy White Paper on the future of power supplies in the UK has backed renewable energy and efficiency measures. | |
| However, it said the preliminary view supports more nuclear plants to help reduce carbon emissions and to ensure supplies are secure. | |
| Critics have called the consultation process a "farce". | Critics have called the consultation process a "farce". |