Hinkley Point Nuclear Reactor

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:38 pm on 4 March 2020.

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Photo of David Melding David Melding Conservative 1:38, 4 March 2020

Minister, I do believe we have to be led by the science, and that science accords with the accepted international standards. And we have no way of measuring if we move away from that, and just allow a decision on other factors. I think we need to strip out any sort of national battles here. The Severn estuary is managed as an estuary. There are dumping grounds on each side, in terms of the border that runs down the middle of the estuary, and it is managed as such. However, I would say this: I don't think EDF Energy and NRW did particularly well at phase 1 on communicating with the public, because that is very, very important. And when these bodies expect politicians to be responsible, and listen to their evidence, they should remember that they also need to communicate with the public. Because if we are backing them and their science, they need to be out there, as the people best equipped to have a public discussion. Because you do need a public discussion on something like this—it's bound to be controversial.