Letter: Nuclear folly

Sir: The Central Electricity Generating Board estimated some 20 years ago that wave power could supply "the whole of Britain with electricity at the present rate of consumption". A more recent official evaluation for the European Union said that wave power could provide 85 per cent of the electricity needed by the member-countries.

We could be enjoying its benefits now if the last government had not abandoned it, in order to pursue Margaret Thatcher's ambition of building 10 pressurised water reactors in 10 years.

The research into wave power has been done. One neglected device, the invention of Sir Christopher Cockerell, is an articulated raft which was tested successfully in the Solent as long ago as 1978, with an energy minister on board. It could be mass-produced now, if the will exists.

DAVID ROSS

London SE5