have the skilled engineers, we have the nuclear scientists, we have the skills in manufacturing and reprocessing nuclear fuel.
The world-wide programmes involving nuclear power could add
substantially to Britain's economic strength. It would certainly be very much to the detriment of British engineering and many British companies if it was the French, the Germans, the Japanese and the
Americans who were at the forefront of this market. Not only would
it be a loss of the nuclear markets themselves. The loss of that
volume of business and that volume of research and development programmes compared with our rivals would mean that British
engineering and science would be pushed far behind, with a catastrophic effect on jobs and prosperity in this country.
The world will continue with nuclear energy. A number of countries are already so committed to nuclear energy they could not abandon
it:
France with 65% of electricity generated by nuclear power; Belgium 63%; West Germany 30% and rising. Countries that are major
economic rivals such as the United States and Japan and the Pacific Basin intend to increase their nuclear power by 40% over the coming decade. The Soviet Union plans to double its nuclear capacity over
the next 5 years and has announced confirmation of this programme
after the Chernobyl disaster. China is embarking upon a major nuclear programme and recognises that the economic expansion they
requires the wee )
as well as are engaged in is totally dependent upon nuclear energy in spite of
their own vast resources of coal, oil and gas. The Chinese
Government have confirmed since Chernobyl that nuclear energy
remains an essential ingredient of China's future economic growth.
TEMPORARY EXPEDIENTS OR PERMANENT SOLUTIONS
Democracy leads to the temptation to go for the popular temporary
expedient rather than the more difficult permanent solution. In the
immediate reaction to a disaster like Chernobyl, it is easy for the
politician to say we must eradicate this form of danger to human
life.
This may well bring immediate short term political popularity from those who would like to believe that the energy they require to
maintain their jobs and their standard of living will be forthcoming
from other means that are safe and will be available.
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