Meeting of the Parliament 24 June 2026 [Draft]
I, too, congratulate Liam Kerr on securing the debate. As he knows, I share the concern, which has been echoed by Stephen Kerr, Paul Sweeney and Miles Briggs, that the Scottish Government’s opposition to new nuclear sends a worrying message to Scotland’s nuclear workforce—the message that its future somehow lies elsewhere. I will build on that point, but I want to begin by highlighting the vital importance of decommissioning and, in particular, the exceptional work that is being undertaken at Dounreay, in my constituency.
It is striking that, in many discussions about energy policy, the role of decommissioning is often overlooked. However, at Dounreay, it is not only a major industrial operation but, as Tim Eagle said, a cornerstone of the local economy and the local community. The site directly employs about 1,400 staff, 96 per cent of whom live locally, and there is a wider supply chain that supports hundreds more jobs. In total, that accounts for almost a quarter of the economy in Caithness and north Sutherland, with a local economic impact of approximately £180 million. In short, a fifth of the local economy is directly connected to Dounreay.
Dounreay is also deeply embedded in the social fabric of the community. Its funding programmes support local sports clubs, charities and individuals, providing more than £1 million annually and leveraging further match funding from other organisations.