UK GOVERNMENT MUST BREAK NUCLEAR OBSESSION

UK GOVERNMENT MUST BREAK NUCLEAR OBSESSION

RANT EXPOSES DISDAIN FOR SCOTLAND’S RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE

SNP Westminster Energy Spokesperson Mike Weir MP, has today [Wednesday] criticised Business Minister Pat McFadden for indulging his Government’s bizarre obsession with nuclear power rather than addressing the future of the oil and gas and offshore renewable industries.

During a Commons statement on Skills for Growth, Mr Weir raised the question regarding where the industry-led schemes fitted into the UK Government’s strategy, asking whether encouragement would be given to expand their work to include the offshore renewable industry. Instead of answering the question, the Minister attacked the Scottish Government’s stance on nuclear energy.

Commenting afterwards Mr Weir said:

“Instead of a sensible answer to a straight question all we got was a rant about nuclear power. The Minister seems much more interested in indulging the Labour Government’s bizarre obsession with nuclear power than in the future of the vital offshore industries.

“The Oil and Gas industry has done a great deal of work in training people for working within their industry and this could well provide an excellent grounding to transfer skills into new offshore renewable energy industries.

“It is utterly remarkable that a Business Minister treats the industry in this manner and shows just where the priorities of the UK government lie on energy. If we are truly to have a clean green future we need to develop offshore renewables and carbon capture and storage rather than going down the dead end of nuclear power.”