The Editor
The Times
1 Pennington Street
London E98 1TT
letters@thetimes.co.uk
11 February 2008 

Sir 

Can I make it absolutely clear that any assessment of the speed with which nuclear power plants can be built ('Speed of construction is key to choice of nuclear reactors', Times, 11 February) is a matter for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and industry.  It is not an aspect that we as the independent safety and security regulator take into account in our assessments.  Our role is purely to assess and regulate safety and security elements of the proposed designs to ensure that people and society are properly protected.      

Yours faithfully 

Mike Weightman
HM Chief Inspector, Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Bootle
Merseyside L20 7HS
0151 951 4168