TREASURY CANCEL NUCLEAR LOAN

TREASURY CANCEL NUCLEAR LOAN

NUCLEAR UNSUSTAINABLE WITHOUT PUBLIC SUBSIDY

SCOTLAND’S BRIGHT FUTURE AND JOBS LIES WITH CLEAN, GREEN ENERGY

Commenting on the cancellation of an £80m loan to Sheffield
Forgemasters, required to support the nuclear supply chain, SNP
Westminster Energy spokesperson Mike Weir MP said the Treasury
announcement underlined the unsustainability of new nuclear without
public subsidy.

Speaking after a statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Weir said:

“Withdrawal of this loan is another nail in the coffin for new nuclear
stations, and underlines that fact that nuclear is not sustainable
without public subsidy.

“The coalition agreement said new nuclear stations could only be built
without public subsidy – but it is clear they can only operate with
overt or covert public support. If the coalition are serious about
this they must abandon rumoured plans to fix carbon prices which would
amount to a hidden subsidy for new nuclear stations.

“The fact is that no country has developed and maintained nuclear
stations without state support, nor ever will. The costs associated
with developing new nuclear stations are mammoth, and the expense and
risks associated with disposal are incalculable.

“The reality is that the UK Government is bogged down in nuclear
planning issues and making NO progress and creating NO jobs, while the
Scottish Government is getting on with the job of investing in the
technologies of the future, and supporting thousands of green energy
jobs.

“Scotland can generate up to ten times our peak electricity demand
from clean, green energy.  Scotland is ahead of the game and ahead of
our targets on renewables – which is great news for Scotland's
economy.  And we are making an international contribution to tackling
global warming with our world-leading Climate Change Act – which is
great news for the environment.

“The view of the Scottish Government and indeed Scotland’s Parliament
as a whole on nuclear is absolutely clear.  Scotland simply doesn’t
want or need dangerous and unnecessary new nuclear power stations,
with soaring decommissioning costs and the unresolved problem of
storage of radioactive waste that burdens future generations for
thousands of years.”