SNP REITERATE OPPOSITION TO NEW NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS

ACTION NEEDED – NOT RE-ANNOUCNING OLD NEWS

Angus MP Mike Weir, SNP Spokesperson on Trade and Industry, has called on the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to take real action on energy rather than re announcing old news.

Speaking in the House of Commons during the presentation of the government’s White Paper on Energy Mr Weir said

“There was much that the SNP could support in the paper, especially on renewables and energy efficiency, indeed we would argue that energy efficiency should be given the highest priority”

“There is, however, a massive white elephant in the room in the shape of nuclear power. The Scottish people are against new nuclear power stations and the government of Scotland will not allow the construction of new nuclear power stations in our country.”

Speaking later Mr Weir also accused the Secretary of State of using the exercise to simply re announce old news.

“Yet again we have had announcement on a competition for a demonstration carbon capture and storage scheme. By my reckoning this is the sixth time this has been announced, yet no real progress has been made. There is a scheme ready to run in Peterhead and if the government is serious about this technology they should press ahead with this rather than wasting yet more time.”