Nuclear policy

days in the 1950s and 60s before we had central heating. Many rooms in the house were cold but the living room had the fire on.

We dressed appropriately for the seasons both inside and out. The bedrooms would be freezing but the hot water bottle meant a cosy bed – just remember to keep your head under the covers.

ice on the insides of windows was commonplace. oh, happy days.

now we have the means to have all our rooms cosy in the winter but young and old can no longer afford to turn on the heat.

now where did i put those hot water bottles?

Doris Duff yoU report (Business, 22 october) that the renewable energy firm infinis energy, which has a number of wind farms in Scotland, is planning to float on the London stock market with an expected value of £1 billion.

clearly someone is going to make a lot of money out of this flotation and good luck to them but it is instructive to learn how this has been achieved.

out of the £226m of revenues this company will generate from renewables such as on-shore wind in 2013 the renewable incentive element provided by the government will be in the region of £115m.

it takes your breath away that in a time of real energy poverty our government, instead of cutting bills, would rather use our money to subsidise renewable energy companies paying out large dividends to their shareholders.

alan BlaCk BriAn Wilson (Perspective, 23 october) is correct in saying that in making a deal with the French eDF and their chinese partners, we are paying the price for our own stupidity.

The last nuclear power station built in the UK was 20 years ago, and for much of the intervening period the Labour Party was in power.

Brian Wilson was a minister in that government, in favour of nuclear, but unable to persuade his more senior colleagues to act.

When Labour did announce new nuclear plans in 2008-9, nine sites were identified, none in Scotland.

either we were a low priority for new nuclear or else the government at Westminster feared SnP and Green opposition to development here.

The SnP was a minority government at the time. it is inconceivable that Labour did not believe that it would soon be returned to power in Scotland, and quite able, perhaps with conservative backing, to push through UK plans for new-build at Hunterston or elsewhere.

i am glad he mentions the eDF-supported research at Strathclyde. When energy policy is in Scottish hands, i hope a Scottish Government will bring forward proposals for a more modern type of nuclear reactor than proposed for Hinkley Point, capable of using as fuel our own and some of the UK’s so-called nuclear waste.

norman lawrie So, THe educational institute of Scotland thinks it has a clear rejection of the suggested changes to its members’ conditions