Difference between revisions of "Nuclear Industry Association"

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In May 2010, the NIA reacted positively to the formation of the Coalition government. Although worried by the appointment of the then Energy Secretary [[Chris Huhne]], the NIA was “particularly pleased to see the appointment of [[Charles Hendry]] to the Energy job.”
 
In May 2010, the NIA reacted positively to the formation of the Coalition government. Although worried by the appointment of the then Energy Secretary [[Chris Huhne]], the NIA was “particularly pleased to see the appointment of [[Charles Hendry]] to the Energy job.”
  
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At the NIA's Summer Party at the [[Royal Society]], Hendry applauded the efforts of the industry in readying itself for “a nuclear renaissance". “I am always impressed by the nuclear industry. I have enjoyed working with many of you in my former role in opposition – and now that I am part of this new government I look forward to working with you to deliver a secure energy future for the UK,” he said.<ref> John McNamara, [http://www.niauk.org/images/industry_link/industrylink_29.pdf What a Party that Was!], IndustryLink, Issue No.29, Autumn 2010</ref>  
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At the NIA's Summer Party at the [[Royal Society]], Hendry applauded the efforts of the industry in readying itself for "a nuclear renaissance". “I am always impressed by the nuclear industry. I have enjoyed working with many of you in my former role in opposition – and now that I am part of this new government I look forward to working with you to deliver a secure energy future for the UK,” he said.<ref> John McNamara, [http://www.niauk.org/images/industry_link/industrylink_29.pdf What a Party that Was!], IndustryLink, Issue No.29, Autumn 2010</ref>  
  
 
The NIA was quick to spin its low-carbon message to other members of the new Coalition government. [[Keith Parker]], the head of the NIA said: “We will continue to get our key message, that nuclear should be at the heart of the UK’s low-carbon agenda, across to the most influential audiences.” The NIA’s Public Affairs and Communications teams were said to be “busy making contact to continue representing the industry to key policymakers and politicians of influence”. <ref> John McNamara, [http://www.niauk.org/images/industry_link/industrylink_28.pdf New friends in high places as government beds in], Industry Link, Issue No.28, Summer 2010, p5 </ref>
 
The NIA was quick to spin its low-carbon message to other members of the new Coalition government. [[Keith Parker]], the head of the NIA said: “We will continue to get our key message, that nuclear should be at the heart of the UK’s low-carbon agenda, across to the most influential audiences.” The NIA’s Public Affairs and Communications teams were said to be “busy making contact to continue representing the industry to key policymakers and politicians of influence”. <ref> John McNamara, [http://www.niauk.org/images/industry_link/industrylink_28.pdf New friends in high places as government beds in], Industry Link, Issue No.28, Summer 2010, p5 </ref>

Revision as of 15:31, 29 October 2012

Nuclear spin.png This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.


The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) is the trade association and "representative voice" of the UK’s civil nuclear industry. It represents almost 60,000 UK nuclear workers across more than 260 member companies.[1]

Friends in high places

In May 2010, the NIA reacted positively to the formation of the Coalition government. Although worried by the appointment of the then Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, the NIA was “particularly pleased to see the appointment of Charles Hendry to the Energy job.”

At the NIA's Summer Party at the Royal Society, Hendry applauded the efforts of the industry in readying itself for "a nuclear renaissance". “I am always impressed by the nuclear industry. I have enjoyed working with many of you in my former role in opposition – and now that I am part of this new government I look forward to working with you to deliver a secure energy future for the UK,” he said.[2]

The NIA was quick to spin its low-carbon message to other members of the new Coalition government. Keith Parker, the head of the NIA said: “We will continue to get our key message, that nuclear should be at the heart of the UK’s low-carbon agenda, across to the most influential audiences.” The NIA’s Public Affairs and Communications teams were said to be “busy making contact to continue representing the industry to key policymakers and politicians of influence”. [3]

“Starting at the TUC in September and finishing with the Conservatives in Birmingham, in early October, the NIA will be exhibiting, debating, networking, defending and messaging on behalf of UK nuclear,” wrote the NIA’s then Head of Media and Public Relations at the NIA. [4]

A year later, the NIA was also extremely active at the Party Conference season. Its newsletter described how the “NIA descended on Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester for 3 weeks of engagement with politicians, grassroots party members and other organisations.” The NIA’s favourite minister, Energy Minister Charles Hendry MP spoke to a packed out room at Conservative Party Conference. His conference speech recognised nuclear energy to be “the cheapest low-carbon source of electricity, so it can keep bills down and the lights on.“[5]

Working with the Government on the carbon floor price

Keith Parker was quick to let slip that the NIA was seeking to lobby the government on the carbon floor price, a key mechanism by which the government might surreptitiously subsidise nuclear. “We look forward to working with Chris Huhne and his team and we note the encouraging words on setting a carbon price, something the industry is supporting, to send a clear signal to investors that low carbon technologies including renewables and nuclear play the key role in delivering the UK’s energy future.” [6]

“We must learn lessons” of Fukushima

After the Fukushima disaster, Keith Parker, the head of the NIA wrote that the “UK has made huge progress in recent years in turning around what was generally regarded as a sunset industry, enduring a slow and not very graceful decline, into one with bright and optimistic prospects that is destined now to be a cornerstone of the nation’s energy needs well into the future".

Despite this, he praised the government’s “sensible and measured approach” in response to the catastrophic accident at Fukushima, arguing that “we have to be prepared to learn and apply the lessons of Japan just as we did the lessons of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.” [7]

"Support for nuclear new build now the highest it has ever been"

In spring 2012, the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) argued that “After the unprecedented tsunami in Japan last March and the damage inflicted upon the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, it was hardly surprising that a poll conducted in June 2011 saw a drop in public support for nuclear, with the results showing that people with favourable opinions about nuclear fell from 40% to 28% and unfavourable opinions increased from 17% to 24%.”

It continued: “However, a recent survey conducted in December 2011 by Ipsos MORI has indicated that the dip in support for nuclear energy has been short-lived, with figures all but returning to those marked in polls conducted before Fukushima - favourability towards the industry recovered to 40% and unfavourable opinions reduced to 19%.”

Keith Parker argued that, "The poll clearly shows that public opinion has not only recovered from last summer’s dip but it has also resumed its gradual year-on year improvement. The 50% support figure for new build is the highest it has ever been." [8]

However, Professor Nick Pidgeon, Director of the Understanding Risk Programme, Cardiff University, giving evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee argues that “a large proportion of recent support” for nuclear power “remain[s] conditional - a 'reluctant acceptance' at best" and added that "while many more in Britain have indeed come to support nuclear power over the past decade they do so while viewing it only as a 'devil's bargain', a choice of last resort in the face of the threat of climate change”. [9]

Revolving door

In mid-June 2011, the former Secretary of State for Energy, John Hutton, became the Chair of the NIA.

The NIA’s chief executive Keith Parker said, “We are at a key point for the development of the UK’s nuclear industry and we are delighted to welcome John Hutton as our chairman. In the wake of the events in Japan we must continue to move forward with confidence and credibility - and help the UK meet it’s security of supply and climate change goals. John Hutton is recognised internationally and he is the ideal person to lead the industry forward.” [10]

Labour government commends NIA for low carbon message

At the 2010 Energy Choices conference, the then Energy Minister Lord Hunt said: “I must commend the work of the NIA in helping to get the positive message across that nuclear is an essential part of a low carbon future for the UK.” [11]

People

Former personnel

NIA Members

Evidence to government committees

Resources

Contact

Carlton House
22a St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4JH
UK
Tel: +44(0)20 7766 6640
Fax: +44(0)20 7839 1523
Email: info@niauk.org

Notes

  1. ↑ Home page, Nuclear Industry Association, undated, accessed 29 October 2012
  2. ↑ John McNamara, What a Party that Was!, IndustryLink, Issue No.29, Autumn 2010
  3. ↑ John McNamara, New friends in high places as government beds in, Industry Link, Issue No.28, Summer 2010, p5
  4. ↑ John McNamara, Editor’s Eye, IndustryLink, Issue No.29 Autumn 2010, p3
  5. ↑ IndustryLink, Political Conference Season 2011, Issue No.34 Winter 2011, p10-11
  6. ↑ John McNamara, New friends in high places as government beds in, IndustryLink, Issue No.28, Summer 2010, p5
  7. ↑ Keith Parker, From the Top, IndustryLink, Issue No.31 Spring 2011, p8
  8. ↑ NIA, Nuclear: What do the public think?, IndustryLink, Issue No.35 Spring 2012
  9. ↑ Science and Technology Select Committee, Devil's bargain? Energy risks and the public, 9 July 2012
  10. ↑ John McNamara, John Hutton announced as NIA chairman, IndustryLink, Issue No.32 Summer 2011
  11. ↑ John McNamara, NIA’s Energy Choices strikes a chord, IndustryLink 27, Jan/Feb/March 2010
  12. ↑ Gavin Stamp, Lib Dems face extra lobbying push, BBC News, in Liverpool, 20 September 2010, accessed 8 May 2010
  13. ↑ The Nuclear Industry Association website is here, although the list was removed from the website in early 2006. It is current to January, 2006.

Documents

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