"The Government is not having any secret discussions," Mr Howard told Parliament.
"The only contact I've had with these three very reputable businessmen is in about the beginning of last year, Mr Walker in a telephone conversation I had with him ... he said that he and Hugh Morgan and Robert de Crespigny had decided to register a company that could be interested in nuclear power.
"And I said THAT'S A GREAT IDEA RON, you know my view on it.
"My view and the view of the Government about nuclear being an option has been well known.
"The question of whether it ever goes any further will be a matter for commercial opinion."
Nothing 'conspiratorial', says PM
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