FOI REVEALS WORRYING NUCLEAR SAFETY RECORD

FOI REVEALS WORRYING NUCLEAR SAFETY RECORD

1750 INCIDENTS IN SEVEN YEARS AMID STAFFING SHORTAGE

SNP Energy Spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, has expressed disbelief and concern over a secret UK Government report which reveals a woeful safety record inside the UK’s nuclear power stations.

The report authored by the UK Government’s chief nuclear inspector Mike Weightman and obtained by the Observer newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act, shows that more than 1750 leaks, breakdowns and other “events” were logged between 2001 and 2008. The reports notes that half of these incidents were deemed “to have the potential to challenge a nuclear safety system” according to inspectors.

A lack of staff at the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is also cited as a major concern by Weightman. The UK currently has a lower ratio of inspectors to nuclear facilities than Mexico, Spain and South Korea.

Commenting, Mr Weir said:

“The near disaster at Sizewell revealed last week was just the tip of the iceberg. The potentially catastrophic consequences of any one of these 1750 “incidents” does not bear thinking about.

“The UK Government’s cavalier approach to nuclear safety is a major cause for concern – a lack of safety inspectors will do nothing to reassure the rightfully fearful public.

“The risks and uncertainties of nuclear power, in terms of waste disposal, decommissioning, security and health concerns, or cost, are far too great.

“And it is not good enough for this information to be dragged out through FOI requests rather than made public by Ministers.

“This report perfectly illustrates the safety problems of nuclear power and underlines the wisdom of the Scottish Government's energy strategy - based on our vast clean, green energy sources including renewables, clean coal and carbon capture.

"Without nuclear power, Scotland has the natural resources to generate clean, green power. Harnessing that potential can meet our future energy demands several times over, while tackling climate change and without the danger and uncertainty of nuclear.”