SNP Government accused of 'dereliction of duty' over nuclear power snub
The SNP Government has been accused of a "dereliction of duty" after failing to carry out any analysis of the potential economic benefits of building new nuclear power stations in Scotland.
Nationalist ministers have also so carried out no research on the economic impact of decomissioning the two remaining nuclear plants north of the Border.
The SNP has long been opposed to nuclear energy and has instead pushed for greater investment in renewables. The UK Government has taken a different approach and recently announced a £14.2 billion investment to build the Sizewell C reactor in Suffolk.
The GMB union is now urging the Scottish Government to reconsider its ban on new nuclear power to help meet net zero targets, deliver secure energy and create thousands of well-paid jobs.
Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, branded the failure of the Scottish Government to properly analyse the potential economic benefits of nuclear energy 'a dereliction of duty.'
She said: 'New nuclear can help provide a baseload of safe, clean and secure energy while creating thousands of good, skilled, unionised jobs in Scotland. The Scottish Government's refusal to discuss the potential benefits in public is one thing but to discover it is not even analysing them in private seems beyond belief.
"To allow ministers' ideological opposition to nuclear energy to block analysis of its potentially huge economic benefits is a dereliction of duty.'
She spoke out after the union asked the Scottish Government for its analysis of the economic impact of decommissioning the Hunterston nuclear plant, in Ayrshire, now underway, and Torness, in East Lothian, where decommissioning is due to begin in 2030.
It also asked for the analysis of the economic benefits linked to the potential expansion of new nuclear stations in Scotland. In response, to the request submitted under Freedom of Information legislation, the union was told: "The Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested."
Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said the need for Holyrood ministers to end their opposition to nuclear power has become even more urgent after the UK Government recently announced £14 billion investment in a new plant at Sizewell C.
Meanwhile, the nuclear plant being built at Hinkley Point C in Somerset is estimated to have created 1,600 jobs for Scots workers and the awarding of almost £300m of contracts to Scots firms.
Analysis by the GMB suggests suggests four small modular reactors (SMRs) could create up to 800 jobs generating £60million a year in wages. At Torness, two new reactors would create up to jobs for 1,000 workers being paid £90m annually.
Sarah Boyack, Scottish Labour energy spokeswoman, said: "Scottish Labour has been clear that we will end the SNP's ideological opposition to nuclear power that is holding Scotland back and blocking the creation of high-quality jobs.
"At the stroke of a pen, the SNP could unlock billions of pounds of investment. And yet, we now learn that the Scottish Government hasn't even bothered to carry out an analysis of the benefits that nuclear energy would bring.
"Only Scottish Labour has the vision to set a new direction for Scotland which maximises the opportunities available through clean energy and economic growth."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is focussed on supporting growth and creating jobs by capitalising on Scotland's immense renewable energy capacity rather than expensive new nuclear energy which takes decades to build and creates radioactive waste which is difficult and costly to dispose of.
"Significant growth in renewables, storage hydrogen, carbon capture and decommissioning are key opportunities for our future energy workforce in Scotland – with independent scenarios from Ernst and Young (EY) showing that with the right support, Scotland's low carbon and renewable energy sector could support nearly 80,000 jobs by 2050."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
11 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Half of Britons oppose fining supermarkets failing healthy food targets
Under a new Government plan to tackle obesity, announced last week, supermarkets could be fined if they do not sell healthier food. But a poll taken by YouGov following the announcement found the public seems not to support the move, with 52% of Britons saying they oppose fining supermarkets for not hitting Government targets to buy healthier food. One third (32%) are in favour of the plan. Source: YouGov Conservative and Reform voters are particularly opposed to the idea, the poll suggests, with 68% and 71% respectively saying they are either 'somewhat' or 'strongly' against it, while 44% of Labour voters and 45% of Lib Dem voters are also against it. The 'healthy food standard' will apply to retailers and manufacturers in England as part of a 10-year strategy to cut diet-related diseases, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. Initially developed by innovation agency Nesta, the policy introduces mandatory health targets for retailers while giving them flexibility in how to meet them, such as by tweaking recipes, running price promotions on healthier items, or redesigning store layouts. Supermarkets will be required to report sales data and those that fail to hit targets could face financial penalties, Nesta suggested. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the Government's aim was for children today to be part of the healthiest generation of youngsters ever (Lucy North/PA) Nesta analysed 36 million supermarket transactions, finding an average shopping basket health score of 67 out of 100, and has set a target to raise this to 69. Its modelling shows that raising the score by just two points would cut obesity by around a fifth over three years, helping more than three million people to achieve a healthier weight. Announcing the policy, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by around 200 calories a day – the equivalent of a bottle of fizzy drink – obesity would be halved. 'This Government's ambition for kids today is for them to be part of the healthiest generation of children ever. That is within our grasp. With the smart steps we're taking today, we can give every child a healthy start to life. 'Our brilliant supermarkets already do so much work for our communities and are trying to make their stores healthier, and we want to work with them and other businesses to create a level playing field. 'Through our new healthy food standard, we will make the healthy choice the easy choice, because prevention is better than cure.' The Government aims to introduce mandatory reporting by the end of this parliament in 2029, with the standard to be achieved some way into the next. Ken Murphy, chief executive of Tesco, welcomed the announcement, while Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's, called it an 'important and positive step forward in helping the nation to eat well'. YouGov surveyed 5,742 adults in Great Britain on July 4.
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Half of Britons oppose fining supermarkets failing healthy food targets
More than half of Britons oppose fining supermarkets which do not meet healthy food sales targets, a survey suggests. Under a new Government plan to tackle obesity, announced last week, supermarkets could be fined if they do not sell healthier food. But a poll taken by YouGov following the announcement found the public seems not to support the move, with 52% of Britons saying they oppose fining supermarkets for not hitting Government targets to buy healthier food. One third (32%) are in favour of the plan. Conservative and Reform voters are particularly opposed to the idea, the poll suggests, with 68% and 71% respectively saying they are either 'somewhat' or 'strongly' against it, while 44% of Labour voters and 45% of Lib Dem voters are also against it. The 'healthy food standard' will apply to retailers and manufacturers in England as part of a 10-year strategy to cut diet-related diseases, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. Initially developed by innovation agency Nesta, the policy introduces mandatory health targets for retailers while giving them flexibility in how to meet them, such as by tweaking recipes, running price promotions on healthier items, or redesigning store layouts. Supermarkets will be required to report sales data and those that fail to hit targets could face financial penalties, Nesta suggested. Nesta analysed 36 million supermarket transactions, finding an average shopping basket health score of 67 out of 100, and has set a target to raise this to 69. Its modelling shows that raising the score by just two points would cut obesity by around a fifth over three years, helping more than three million people to achieve a healthier weight. Announcing the policy, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by around 200 calories a day – the equivalent of a bottle of fizzy drink – obesity would be halved. 'This Government's ambition for kids today is for them to be part of the healthiest generation of children ever. That is within our grasp. With the smart steps we're taking today, we can give every child a healthy start to life. 'Our brilliant supermarkets already do so much work for our communities and are trying to make their stores healthier, and we want to work with them and other businesses to create a level playing field. 'Through our new healthy food standard, we will make the healthy choice the easy choice, because prevention is better than cure.' The Government aims to introduce mandatory reporting by the end of this parliament in 2029, with the standard to be achieved some way into the next. Ken Murphy, chief executive of Tesco, welcomed the announcement, while Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's, called it an 'important and positive step forward in helping the nation to eat well'. YouGov surveyed 5,742 adults in Great Britain on July 4.
STV News
34 minutes ago
- STV News
Edinburgh first airport in Scotland to lift 100ml liquids rule
Edinburgh Airport is the first airport in Scotland to lift the 100ml rule for liquids being carried in hand luggage. From Monday, passengers departing from the Scottish capital will be allowed to carry liquids of up to two litres through security, and they will not need to be removed from bags. It comes after eight scanners and two extra security lanes were installed at the airport as part of a £24m project. Officials said the investment enabled the removal of the 100ml rule, which was introduced in 2006 in response to a foiled terrorist plot to detonate explosives on transatlantic flights. In what has been hailed as a 'transformation of the security process' at Scotland's busiest airport, large electronics, such as tablets and laptops, will also now be allowed to remain in bags. Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said the new process will allow passengers to move through security lanes more easily. 'We are delighted to be able to lift this rule and really transform the whole security process, making it easier for everyone', he said. 'A whole generation of travellers have only known the 100ml rule to be the case, so it really is a momentous day as we become the first airport in Scotland to lift the rule since it was introduced in 2006. 'The change allows more flexibility for passengers to take liquids through security, all while maintaining and improving our high safety levels through the use of 3D technology.' However Mr Dewar reminded passengers to 'continue to check with the situation at their return airport as not all airports will be moving away from 100ml just yet'. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
