"You look at the number of nuclear plants on the drawing board or in construction and there literally is not enough available uranium, " says Inwentash, a 50-year- old Toronto accountant turned venture capitalist.

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In Shanghai alone two new fabs are under construction, another two are on the drawing board, and over a dozen more are in the early planning stages.

ECONOMIST: Semiconductor manufacturers

Later in the session, ministers were urged to reveal which construction and property companies they had met before drawing up their planning policy.

BBC: Government extends 'right to buy' housing scheme

Mr Broughton said his boss, John Eardley, rang him a week after Mr Farr's death to ask him to retrospectively sign a method statement, a risk assessment and a computer-aided drawing of the barrier's construction.

BBC: Last Updated: Monday, 6 March 2006, 19:55 GMT