Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
25 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
General Question Time
Fusion Strategy
We obviously work with Torness, and we welcome the work of its workers and management and their participation in our energy security. Torness is making plans for its closure, as Martin Whitfield is well aware.
Nuclear fusion is far away from deployment. The security of electricity supply and issues such as grid stability, inertia and frequency control will not be helped by something that happens in the future—in 2040. Nuclear fusion also cannot be lifted and put into Torness power station or other fission sites. I think that Martin Whitfield is aware of that, too.
In the same item of business
6. Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its energy policy and strategy, and in light of reports that Torness nuclear power station is due to ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy (Gillian Martin)
SNP
The Scottish Government recognises the increasing interest in fusion energy. However, fusion remains experimental, with no commercial deployment and uncertai...
Martin Whitfield
Lab
What estimate has the Scottish Government made of the direct financial losses to East Lothian resulting from the closure of Torness nuclear power station, in...
Gillian Martin
SNP
We obviously work with Torness, and we welcome the work of its workers and management and their participation in our energy security. Torness is making plans...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
What does the cabinet secretary understand to be the estimated average build cost of a small modular reactor?
Gillian Martin
SNP
Obviously, I do not have that information in front of me, because we do not plan to build small nuclear reactors, which are unproven technology that has not ...