THE case against nuclear power as a dirty and dangerous source of energy is well known but, in recent weeks, the arguments have coalesced around the economics.

Since 1974 the UK has spent £6.8 billion on research and development into nuclear fusion, which is still no nearer while in the same period the country has spent £540 million on renewable power research.

The imbalance is clear.

Nowhere in the world is nuclear power entirely self financing, but it is claimed the private sector will "fund, construct and operate new nuclear plants and cover the cost of decommissioning and their full share of long-term waste management".

This is a sham and a fudge. We have yet to see a single nuclear power station come in on budget.

The World Bank has made a decision not to finance new, or the upgrading of old, nuclear power plants because "in almost all cases, nuclear is not the least-cost solution to the power supply problem".

It is implausible that the private sector will invest why should they when the risks of securing a profit are so high?

On economic criteria alone, nuclear power still fails to make the grade.

By putting in place a dodgy and ill-considered framework, then saying the rest is up to the market to deliver, the Government has failed to take the necessary steps toward a sustainable and secure future energy supply.

Keith Taylor, Green Party, Waterlow Road, London