BROWN'S BUDGET EXPOSES ENERGY REVIEW AS SHAM

The SNP's Westminster Energy spokesperson Mike Weir MP today (Thursday) accused the Government of conducting a sham of an energy review by pointing out that the Chancellor has already pre-empted the conclusions of the Review by relying on the sale of British Energy to raise funds for his budget proposals.

Mr Weir said the Government's assurances that no decisions had been made were "a sham".

He said:

"In his budget statement yesterday the Chancellor stated that

"To diversify risk further and after the Energy Review has reported, we are prepared to sell part of our stake in British Energy and related Energy assets".

"Given that British Energy is unlikely to be worth very much unless the government sanctions new nuclear power stations does the Chancellor already know the outcome of the review?

"The sale of British Energy is clearly one way the Chancellor hopes to raise money. The government have clearly already decided to go down the nuclear route and have pencilled these funds into their budget calculations. The whole energy review is a sham designed to pave the way for nuclear.

"Scotland neither needs nor wants nuclear power and will resist any new reactors. This blows a hole in Brown's claims of producing a green budget."