WEIR BLASTS MINISTER OVER NUCLEAR BID

 

Questioning the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in the Commons today (Thursday) SNP Westminster Energy spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, urged the UK Government to come clean after recent reports suggesting Westminster may want to grab back powers over planning for nuclear developments.

 

Mr Weir said:

 

“John Hutton was given the opportunity to give a straight answer to a straight question, as to whether the UK government are looking to snatch back planning powers from Holyrood.

 

“Mr Hutton refused to give a straight answer, which must raise serious concerns that he is plotting in the background to impose new nuclear plants on an unwilling Scotland.

 

“The Minister said he would not comment on ‘inaccurate and ridiculous press comment’, but of course I was referring to an article written by Mr Hutton himself. The implication of Mr Hutton’s article was clearly that the UK Government may wish to site nuclear power stations in Scotland.

 

“The SNP will fight any power grab from the Westminster Government tooth and nail.

 

“The Scottish Government has the right to decide whether there should be new nuclear power stations in Scotland and, along with the majority of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament and the support of the Scottish public, the SNP Government has made its position very clear.”

 

ENDS

 

Contact SNP Westminster Press: 0207 219 0074

 

A transcript of Mr Weir’s exchange with Mr Hutton is detailed below:

 

Mike Weir MP: “Whatever his plans for a new generation of Anglo-French nuclear plants, the Ministers will be aware that there is a majority in the Scottish Parliament, including many of his own party, who are thoroughly opposed to new nuclear plants. Will the Minister take this opportunity to deny weekend reports that he is seeking to remove the Scottish Parliament’s planning powers in respect to nuclear stations.

 

John Hutton MP (Secretary of State for BERR): I’m not going to comment on inaccurate and ridiculous press comment. I think in regards to nuclear power, we’ve got to think very seriously about energy interdependence, within the UK and I think my concern about the stance that he and his party have taken is that there is a very real danger that that will be compromised, and I think it is one thing for SNP politicians to strut around with their rhetoric about nuclear while at the same time continuing to rely on nuclear power generated in the UK.