Blair says nuclear choice needed
November 22, 2005
Tony Blair says "controversial and difficult" decisions will have to be taken over the need for nuclear power to tackle the UK energy crisis.
Concerns have been growing over future power supplies and rising gas costs.
Mr Blair, who is being quizzed by senior MPs, says any decisions will be taken in the national interest.
It is his first appearance before the influential Commons liaison committee since he was defeated over controversial anti-terror proposals.
He will want to show he has not been blown off course by Labour MPs who rebelled against plans to allow police to detain suspects for up to 90 days.
Lord Birt
Members of the committee, made up of the 31 chairmen of the Commons select committees, will be looking to see if the prime minister shows any sign of concessions on his controversial reform agenda.
Mr Blair is also due to be questioned about civil liberties and social cohesion and policy in the Middle East.
At the start of the meeting he was pressed to say why ex-BBC director general Lord Birt employed as a "blue skies thinker" in the prime minister's strategy unit, was not being made to appear before a committee of MPs.
Mr Blair said he did not intend any discourtesy to the committee, but said he felt Stephen Aldridge, acting head of the strategy unit, was "best placed" to answer MPs' questions.
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