FRED and Barbara Jones (HAS, April 1) are, of course, correct that the casualties we should be most concerned about are those who are in future going to be affected by the fallout from the Japanese nuclear power stations.

This leaves us in a quandary.

We need to generate enough electricity to satisfy our energy requirements.

Fossil fuels need to be phased out because the evidence points to their contribution to climate changes that would not otherwise happen and green technologies may not satisfy all our future energy needs.

Though my general disposition and emotional makeup leads me to be optimistic, I think that we are in the position in which we cannot guarantee having electric power without a proportion of it being nuclear power stations.

Unless here is a breakthrough in knowledge and technology, we may have to accept compromises.

I am very sorry that I cannot totally support what Fred and Barbara Jones are arguing.

G Bulmer, Billingham.