Nuclear power may have to be embraced in a bid to combat climate change even though it is not a “sustainable” energy source, Margaret Beckett has admitted.

The environment secretary said she was very reluctant to build new nuclear power stations, but that she had “accepted that it could happen”.

But Mrs Beckett said any investment in nuclear must not be at the expense of renewable energy sources.

I don’t know. I just think there’s a lack of imagination from the Government. They can only think in terms of big fixes, building more power stations to take up the increase in demand rather than thinking about cutting the demand. Higher energy efficiency standards for new homes and increased grants for people installing solar and wind systems should be considered well ahead of building any new nuclear, (clean) coal or oil power stations.

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