Malcolm Wicks returns to helm of UK energy policy

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) Malcolm Wicks has been reappointed as head of Britain's energy policy, eight months after leaving the job, the government said today.

After being appointed minister for science and innovation in a small reshuffle last November, Wicks returns to the post of energy minister, replacing Lord Truscott.

Under the new Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Wicks will also be responsible for the environment, security of energy supply, fuel poverty and nuclear security, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said in a statement.

Wicks was in charge of energy policy when the government said early last year more nuclear power plants should be built to help Britain reduce its dependence on imported fuels, while cutting its carbon emissions to combat climate change.

Since then, legal challenges by environmental groups have delayed any concrete policies on encouraging new nuclear plants until autumn. Potential builders say they still lack the investment security they need to spend the billions of pounds required to build and manage them.

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