Letters

21 February 2009

Spectator readers respond to recent articles

Since 1997 the government has approved over 30GW of gas-fired power stations (CCGTs). It has not approved any other kind of base-load power plant such as coal or nuclear. At present 90 per cent of all ongoing and proposed power station construction in the UK is to be gas-fired. Only last week the government approved two new large gas-fired plants at Pembroke and King’s Lynn. These government policies have made us more, not less, dependent on gas imports in the medium to long term. Britain will need to import 80 per cent of the gas it needs by 2020.

There should be three policy priorities to broaden our energy sources and avoid a future overdependence on Russian gas. First, support Turkey in her bid to join the EU, guaranteeing that the Nabucco pipeline, which brings non-Russian gas from the Caspian, will be brought online. Second, strengthen relations with Libya, which is relatively close to home and enjoys huge liquefied natural gas potential. Finally, quickly approve new cleaner coal domestic plants such as Kingsnorth, which is still awaiting government approval.

Tony Lodge
Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Studies
London SW1

Catholic taste

Sir: Peter Phillips (Arts, 14 February) correctly listed the music which greeted the Pope on his recent visit to St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, but he was wrong to say that this music was chosen by the Holy See. In fact the wonderful chant and polyphony performed that day was proposed by the Australian Catholic Church, led by the Revd Peter Williams and under the guidance of Cardinal Pell. It was accepted with alacrity by the Pope, who beamed his pleasure as he laid the relics of St Thomas à Beckett and Vietnamese and Korean martyrs under the newly consecrated altar. Good music has returned to the Catholic Church in Australia. Ad multos annos!

Noel James Debien
Director of Music, St Francis of Assisi
Sydney, Australia

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andrew kay

February 24th, 2009 10:02pm Report this comment

Who are the real "Slumdog" Millionaires?"
Well without offence to the very fine actors of the film by the same name and the other 65 million poor of India, the real "slumdog" millionaires are those greedy greedy finance guru's responsible for the current world financial crisis.

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