WHAT WOULD LABOUR MSPs SAY?
Speaking ahead of an address by the UK Business Secretary in Cumbria (Friday) in which Lord Mandelson is anticipated to trumpet proposals for new nuclear developments, SNP Westminster Energy spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, challenged the Minister to explain how using new reactors would be financially and economically beneficial since evidence shows they will produce seven times more waste than existing reactors.
Commenting Mr Weir said:
"Labour in London look like they are becoming the spin doctors for the nuclear industry with this utter obsession with new nuclear power stations. Nobody will be fooled by Lord Mandelson’s cheerleading for the nuclear industry.
"Evidence uncovered by Greenpeace has shown that waste from the new European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in Finland will be up to seven times more hazardous than waste produced by existing nuclear reactors.
"How Lord Mandelson thinks burdening future generations with that cost and danger is economically productive is bizarre.
“Every penny wasted on new unsafe nuclear technology will be a penny less for the development of clean, green energy.
"Scotland is on course to be the clean, green energy capital of Europe – we already have a greater installed capacity of renewable energy than nuclear. Developing this massive potential is the way forward for energy security and safety in Scotland.
”We can achieve secure, clean, low carbon energy by harnessing Scotland's vast green potential, tackling climate change without adding to the burden of toxic radioactive waste.
"Labour are split on this issue as the views of Labour MSPs show and this continuing lobbying for the nuclear industry by Labour south of the border must be heightening those divisions within Labour's Scottish Parliamentary group."
Further information regading this Scottish news information story.
1. Peter Roche a nuclear consultation who has advised the UK Government’s Committee on Radioactive Waste Management describing the PIME conference said;
“This gathering of pro-nuclear spin doctors will attempt to work out a way to convince us black is white,” he said.
“They will try and tell us that this failed technology can help tackle climate change when, if fact, it is the worst option we could possibly choose.”
2. A report on the splits between MPs and MSPs over the issue of energy and devolved powers can be read here:
http://scotlandonsunday.
3. A statement issued by Greenpeace uncovering evidence that waste from the new European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) will be up to seven times more hazardous than waste produced by existing nuclear reactors can be read here:
http://www.pressreleasepoint.
4. Sarah Boyack: Tabled two motions supported by other Labour MSPs (One by Marlyn Glen, Maureen Macmillan and Cathy Peattie who also supported another along with Trish Godman, Pauline McNeill and Kate Maclean)
S2M-4428 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) : The Energy Challenge
That the Parliament believes that the argument for new nuclear build in the United Kingdom has not been made; notes that, even with an accelerated planning system, new nuclear power stations could not contribute either to plugging the "energy gap" or to carbon reductions by 2020 when existing electricity generating capacity is run down and carbon emissions have to be curbed; further notes that existing Scottish electricity generation is provided 22% by gas, 26% by coal, 35% by nuclear and 13% by renewables but that around 17% of electricity generated in Scotland is exported; further notes that massive investment in new infrastructure across the UK is providing for a diversity of gas supply from many countries including Norway, with Russian gas only contributing around 1%, and that new clean coal technologies are now available; also notes that the supply of wind power is growing faster than predicted and that in Germany wind power capacity is already equivalent to UK nuclear capacity; further believes that new nuclear build would be inconsistent with environmental sustainability, adding to the legacy of highly toxic nuclear waste and the huge public cost of decommissioning and storage; urges the Scottish Executive to see the bigger picture in which electricity accounts for just 19% of total energy consumed in Scotland and carbon emissions by sector were last recorded as 17% transport, 11% domestic, 12% business and 37% energy supply, and further urges the Executive to recognise the enormous potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by energy efficiency and conservation, greater use of combined heat and power and rapid investment in the full range of renewable technologies, including microgeneration and biomass.
Supported by: Mr Brian Adam, Roseanna Cunningham, Marlyn Glen, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Mr Adam Ingram, Nora Radcliffe, Mr Mark Ruskell, Tommy Sheridan, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Maureen Macmillan, Chris Ballance, Linda Fabiani, Richard Lochhead, Jean Turner, Rosie Kane, Ms Maureen Watt, Cathy Peattie
S2M-4061 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) : Nuclear Power in Scotland - That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Sustainable Development Commission's nuclear review which evaluates the contribution of nuclear power in a low carbon economy; acknowledges the survey for BBC Scotland's Energy Week which found that more than 52% of people prefer renewable energy resources and 51% oppose nuclear power stations being built in Scotland; notes the Scottish Executive's current position that there will be no support for the further development of nuclear power stations while waste management issues remain unresolved; believes that underground, retrievable, monitored storage is not a long-term or sustainable solution for nuclear waste; supports the conclusion that nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change or security of supply, and urges the maximum use of energy efficiency measures, alongside renewable energy and micro-generation capacity, to meet the energy needs of people in Scotland
Supported by: Mr Brian Adam, Bruce Crawford, Marlyn Glen, Trish Godman, Donald Gorrie, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Maureen Macmillan, Pauline McNeill, Nora Radcliffe, Iain Smith, Shiona Baird, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Patrick Harvie, Kate Maclean, Eleanor Scott, Tommy Sheridan, Mr Adam Ingram, Cathy Peattie, Chris Ballance, Mike Pringle, Linda Fabiani, Rosie Kane.
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