Ruling out building a new generation of nuclear power stations in Britain would be "irresponsible", Environment Secretary David Miliband said yesterday.

The controversial move is expected to be recommended by the Government's energy review which is due to be published later this month.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he would take "a lot of convincing" that there was an alternative but cabinet colleague Peter Hain has expressed serious doubts.

Mr Miliband said: "As the Environment Secretary, and as this overwhelming global issue of climate change is caused by carbon dioxide emissions, it would be simply irresponsible to rule out one source of energy that is zero carbon emitting.

"What we must do is look at the genuine cost issues, the genuine issues about nuclear waste. We've got to look at those issues very seriously.

"There is no single solution to this' we are going to have to look at all the tools that are at our disposal."

Mr Hain warned last week against a "gung ho" approach to new nuclear, saying he believed the case for it was "still to be proven".

He added: "I am very clear that the lights have to be kept on, in 10, 15, 20 years' time when this problem of supply really seriously hits us . . . and if nuclear is the only way to fill it, well I'll reluctantly have to accept that.

"But if we get to that point without a massive ramping up of renewable energy then I don't think the public will support it," he said.

Shadow trade secretary Alan Duncan said new nuclear should be a "last resort".

"The nuclear power sector should be there as a last resort in many respects," he said.