GOVERNMENT FAIL TO RULE OUT NUCLEAR CLEAN UP SUBSIDIES

Commenting on the Government's Energy Review which was announced in the Commons today the SNP's Shadow Energy spokesperson, Mike Weir MP condemned the Government for failing to rule out subsidies for the clean up of the nuclear sites they propose.

Commenting Mr Weir said:

"I challenged the Trade & Industry Secretary to categorically rule out a taxpayer bail-out of the nuclear industry for the clean up costs of nuclear sites at the end of their life cycle.

"The secretary of state's silence on this crucial point raises the realconcern that we will all end up paying a back-end subsidy for nuclear power. We need to know whether the taxpayer will be left footing the
bill for waste disposal and the huge clean up problems new nuclear will bring.

"Scotland does not require nuclear energy. We produce 6 times more energy than we use - we export more than ten times the oil, about six times more gas and produce almost twice as much coal as we use. We are a net exporter of electricity.

"Scotland is blessed with a variety of renewable and clean energy sources. Tony Blair may be desperate to find a legacy, but it must not be a new generation of dirty, dangerous and expensive nuclear stations.

The SNP Leader Alex Salmond also commented on the Review's claims that nuclear would ensure less CO2 emissions. He said:

"The government claim nuclear is a low carbon alternative, but the evidence tells a very different story.

"The evidence shows that within the lifetime of new nuclear plants in the UK, CO2 emissions from the mining and manufacture of uranium fuel will match the emissions from gas fired plant.

"The government's nuclear fascination has blinded them to the facts. They are putting their low carbon hopes in a technology that promises ever increasing carbon emissions and tonnes of deadly radioactive waste.

"A far better low carbon option is the promotion of carbon capture and storage schemes. Scotland is already a world leader in low carbon coal and gas technology with the prospect of the world's first commercial carbon capture plant in Peterhead.

"While I welcome the warm words in support of carbon capture, mere words are not enough. We need an early commitment to this industry which holds out the prospect of low carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

"My advice to the government would be to get off their nuclear bandwagon and instead focus their energy and support on the technologies of the future."