On behalf of 28,000 professional scientists and engineers working in electricity supply, nuclear power, R&D and related environmental and safety bodies, Prospect head of research Sue Ferns welcomed the acknowledgement by Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson that the UK can ill afford to lose the 19 per cent of electricity generation currently provided by nuclear power – predicted to fall to just 7 per cent by 2020.

"In this context we welcome the pragmatic proposal to involve the Health and Safety Executive at an early stage to report on potential health and safety risks arising from recent and potential energy developments, including the potential role of pre-licensing assessments of candidate designs for new nuclear power stations."

After today’s launch of the government’s energy review consultation document, Mike Clancy, assistant general secretary with responsibility for the electricity supply sector, said Prospect would be putting its own submission to the review.

"The government is more concerned today about security of supply than it was at the launch of its 2003 energy white paper, and this is leading to a more pragmatic assessment of the options, including nuclear new build and clean coal technology. However, we will be pressing the government to recognise the limit of the market in meeting its objectives."

Clancy welcomed the government’s acknowledgement of the need for investment in the UK’s infrastructure for generation and transmission of electricity. But, he stressed: "The greatest challenges for transmission and distribution will arise from any move to large-scale generation from renewable sources. This will pose a major engineering challenge for the UK which must be addressed."

Ferns said that a key issue for trade unions across the whole energy sector is skills – both for the existing workforce, and to attract the high quality workforce needed for the future. She said: "Prospect will be seeking meetings with ministers to discuss our concerns."