Ministers' boost for nuclear power: Labour plan to revive the flagging industry

In addition to turning to wind power, Labour also plans to revive the flagging nuclear industry.

Britain's ten working nuclear power stations currently produce 20 per cent of the country's electricity.

But by 2020 all but three will have reached the end of their working lives and be shut.

After 2023, only one – the Sizewell B power station – will be producing electricity.

Last year the Government invited energy companies to bid to build ten replacement power stations.

The French state-owned company EDF wants to build four nuclear power stations. German power company E.On and British Gas's parent company Centrica are also interested.

The Government says it will not allow taxpayers to subsidise the new wave of nuclear power stations.

Private operators would have to to meet the cost of building, decommissioning and disposing of waste.

But no nuclear reactors anywhere in the world have ever been built without public subsidy.

And the creation of a central nuclear waste dump to hold the growing mountain of nuclear waste currently stored above ground is likely to get public funds.

Although nuclear power emits no carbon dioxide, it is not classed as renewable – and does not contribute to European's green energy targets and does not feature in the renewable energy strategy.

The closure of so many reactors means that nuclear will be producing only around 5 per cent of Britain's electricity by 2020, alongside the proposed 30 to 35 per cent from renewables.

The remaining 60 per cent will come from gas and coal.