British Energy: Taxpayers To Bail Out Nuclear Liabilities - Bruce

12.00.00am GMT Mon 1st Dec 2003

Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary

Commenting on Patricia Hewitt's confirmation of the increase of £75 million in the Credit Facility to British Energy in a written statement released today, Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, said: "The taxpayer should not bail out the shareholders of a company that took the risk of investing in a technology that has long proved itself a guaranteed loss maker in a market economy."

"The DTI has already spent over £7billion in the last 5 years managing nuclear liabilities. This year's Energy Bill will have the biggest money resolution parliament has ever seen to fund future nuclear decommissioning."