‘Scotland doesn’t need nor want new nuclear power stations’

Already power companies have registered an interest in building the new stations, which are likely to be built on or near existing sites for commercial and political reasons.

Like his predecessor, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown is personally convinced that in terms of security of supply and meeting the UK's target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, new nuclear build has to be part of the nation's long-term energy equation.

However, ministers are already bracing themselves for a challenge in the courts from environmental groups. The first consultation document on nuclear power had to be withdrawn last year after court action by Greenpeace.

Last night, the Liberal Democrats branded the latest consultation exercise "a sham", saying the government had made up its mind to build new nuclear stations years ago.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister upped the rhetoric on the subject by speaking of 2008 as being a year for "big choices" and "big, long-term decisions" including on "secure energy".

He stressed: "When North Sea oil runs down people will want to know whether we have made sure we've got the balance right between external dependence on energy and our ability to generate our own energy within our own country and that's about renewables as well as other things."

He added: "The willingness to take tough, long-term decisions, whether it's wind power or wave power, whether it's renewables generally or nuclear, is a fundamental precondition of preparing Britain for the new world."

Following Mr Hutton's announcement in the Commons, the UK Government is expected to publish an Energy Bill, which would provide funding for nuclear storage and decommissioning as well as incentives for firms to invest in renewables. It will come alongside a Climate Change Bill and a Planning Bill.

Mr Brown also derided the opposition to his nuclear plans, accusing political opponents of "ducking" tough decisions and of "opportunism".

"It is not putting the interests of the country before short-term political gain," he insisted.

However, while Mr Hutton can talk about nuclear plans for England and Wales, he does not have the same ability for Scotland, where the planning authority is not Westminster and Whitehall but Alex Salmond's administration.

Last night, Mr Mather laid out the Scottish Government's opposition to any new nuclear build north of the border. Pointing out how nuclear production in Scotland had fallen by one-quarter in 2006, he insisted the Scottish Government would focus on developing cleaner, greener energy.

"Scotland has massive renewables potential as well as significant opportunities for clean fossil-fuel technologies and carbon storage. It does not need nor want new nuclear power stations, which a majority of MSPs oppose, not least because the waste issue has never been resolved," declared Mr Mather.

The Energy Minister argued how the latest energy trends data proved nuclear was unreliable and unnecessary with the installed capacity of renewables in Scotland now exceeding that of nuclear power.

"We can achieve secure, clean, low carbon energy through harnessing Scotland's vast green potential, tackling climate change without adding to the burden of toxic radioactive waste."

He added: "There is more than enough green and renewable potential in Scotland to provide a diverse, low carbon electricity supply, so the argument that we need nuclear is totally redundant."

At Westminster and at Holyrood, Mr Brown's anticipated decision to go for a new nuclear build will stir up widespread political opposition, not least on Labour's own benches.

Last night, a Scottish Government source insisted: "Labour are split from top to bottom on nuclear power."