Chamber
Plenary, 21 Feb 2007
21 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Environment
The key problem is that the UK Government has postponed a decision on the matter. We must decide now and get behind what is a massive opportunity for Scotland's energy future. That is the key, but the UK Government, and Gordon Brown in particular, have decided to postpone the decision and BP has put the project on hold. That is bad news for Scotland. We must get the go-ahead if we are to reduce Scotland's emissions and tackle global warming. Doosan Babcock Energy Ltd in Renfrew wants to develop world-leading clean coal technology in Scotland but, yet again, the Government in London is delaying decisions on support for the technology.
The key point is that global warming is a threat here and now. It is a real and present danger facing Scotland. The energy sector is Scotland's biggest contributor to the harmful emissions that cause global warming. We must clean up our energy industry in Scotland, but nuclear energy is not the answer. We must scotch the myths. Nuclear energy is not reliable. As we speak, Hunterston B is closed down and it is not producing energy but, of course, the lights have not gone out in Scotland, which shows that we do not need nuclear energy at present.
Nuclear energy is not carbon free: drilling for uranium causes lots of carbon emissions. Nuclear energy is certainly not a clean industry: for the past few decades, nuclear waste has been produced by the nuclear sector in Scotland. There is no safe solution to nuclear waste in Scotland. The minister should face that reality and dump any commitment to producing even more nuclear waste in Scotland. We should be supplying our communities from renewable energy sources, not sending nuclear waste convoys through their high streets.
We do not have time to wait for nuclear energy. If we supported its construction, the first nuclear power station would not be up and running until 2017-18 or even later.
I conclude my speech in this short debate on nuclear energy and its relation to our energy needs and our environment by saying that we have to take the right decisions now. Future generations will depend on this Parliament having taken the right decisions now. We can have a win-win situation in Scotland. We can make the most of clean energy technologies and of our renewables potential. That could create thousands of new jobs and could meet our energy needs for centuries to come. It would also make a disproportionate contribution towards tackling global warming and towards the global effort to tackle climate change. I commend the SNP's motion to the chamber.
I move,
That the Parliament welcomes the recent ruling by the High Court in London that declared the UK Government's decision to back new nuclear power stations illegal due to a failure to consult adequately; recognises that the judgement is a further blow to the UK Government's pro-nuclear policy, and rejects the case for new nuclear power stations in Scotland in favour of developing our nation's enormous renewables and clean energy potential which is the quickest, most effective, safest and less expensive energy option for tackling climate change.
The key point is that global warming is a threat here and now. It is a real and present danger facing Scotland. The energy sector is Scotland's biggest contributor to the harmful emissions that cause global warming. We must clean up our energy industry in Scotland, but nuclear energy is not the answer. We must scotch the myths. Nuclear energy is not reliable. As we speak, Hunterston B is closed down and it is not producing energy but, of course, the lights have not gone out in Scotland, which shows that we do not need nuclear energy at present.
Nuclear energy is not carbon free: drilling for uranium causes lots of carbon emissions. Nuclear energy is certainly not a clean industry: for the past few decades, nuclear waste has been produced by the nuclear sector in Scotland. There is no safe solution to nuclear waste in Scotland. The minister should face that reality and dump any commitment to producing even more nuclear waste in Scotland. We should be supplying our communities from renewable energy sources, not sending nuclear waste convoys through their high streets.
We do not have time to wait for nuclear energy. If we supported its construction, the first nuclear power station would not be up and running until 2017-18 or even later.
I conclude my speech in this short debate on nuclear energy and its relation to our energy needs and our environment by saying that we have to take the right decisions now. Future generations will depend on this Parliament having taken the right decisions now. We can have a win-win situation in Scotland. We can make the most of clean energy technologies and of our renewables potential. That could create thousands of new jobs and could meet our energy needs for centuries to come. It would also make a disproportionate contribution towards tackling global warming and towards the global effort to tackle climate change. I commend the SNP's motion to the chamber.
I move,
That the Parliament welcomes the recent ruling by the High Court in London that declared the UK Government's decision to back new nuclear power stations illegal due to a failure to consult adequately; recognises that the judgement is a further blow to the UK Government's pro-nuclear policy, and rejects the case for new nuclear power stations in Scotland in favour of developing our nation's enormous renewables and clean energy potential which is the quickest, most effective, safest and less expensive energy option for tackling climate change.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5607, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on the environment.
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
Last week, the High Court in London delivered the devastating judgment that the United Kingdom Government's decision to pursue a programme of new nuclear pow...
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Allan Wilson):
Lab
Mr Lochhead's latter point is interesting. I have noted his party leader's comments in the press about the subject. Does Mr Lochhead know how much BP demands...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
The key problem is that the UK Government has postponed a decision on the matter. We must decide now and get behind what is a massive opportunity for Scotlan...
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Allan Wilson):
Lab
We have just heard the usual litany of misrepresentation of the Executive's approach to renewable energy and our position on nuclear power. After all the deb...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
The First Minister has repeatedly said that the report of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management would indicate to him whether a solution had been fou...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I have already outlined the Executive's position. Our policy on new nuclear power stations was made clear in response to the Department of Trade and Industry...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
It is nice to get back to discussing the good old subjects: energy, and nuclear power's place in it, is one that we have discussed many times. However, I do ...
Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone:
Con
No thank you.Where does that leave us in relation to the SNP motion? The SNP has lodged what can only be described as an opportunist motion—an attempt to rai...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Will the member give way?
Alex Johnstone:
Con
No. It is all very well for those of us who have the wealth and resources to depend on renewable energy to assume that we will manage to deal with the odd da...
Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol):
Sol
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone:
Con
No, thank you.The SNP has brought this subject to us again. We want to hear more about what it would do to ensure that we do not require nuclear energy—if th...
Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green):
Green
Many environmental threats face Scotland, but few pose such a dire threat as climate change. We all know that it is happening, what causes it and what needs ...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
We have heard tributes to Greenpeace's pioneering campaigning on environmental protection. Does Shiona Baird agree with Patrick Moore, the former leader of G...
Shiona Baird:
Green
We must recognise that there are quite a few supposed environmentalists who have changed their views. However, all their arguments can be undermined by the f...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
Apart from its welcoming the High Court judgment, of which I will say more later, the SNP motion is one that I could endorse. The difficulty that I have with...
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
On that point, on which I agree with the member, will she take an intervention?
Nora Radcliffe:
LD
I am sorry, but I have got a lot to get through in four minutes. Most important, building state-subsidised nuclear power plants will sap investment from the ...
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
This is a short debate and I ask for speeches of a maximum of four minutes. Even then, I am not sure that I can accommodate all members who wish to speak. I ...
Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
It is the two Maureens. Thank you, Presiding Officer.As this Blair Government thankfully nears its end, it will be remembered in a negative and discredited w...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
The Scottish National Party seems to be committed to renewables only until the going gets tough and its members think that they might lose a vote or two. For...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Maureen Macmillan:
Lab
No.I agree that we can have subsea cables down the east and west coasts and underground land cables when necessary, but that will require a lot of visible en...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
What about nuclear power?
Maureen Macmillan:
Lab
The member should stop shouting, for goodness' sake.I urge members to speak up for wind turbines, for marine power and for the necessary upgrading of the gri...
Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
Maureen Macmillan told Richard Lochhead to stop shouting, but our ears are sore from her shout—it was certainly not a speech.The Tory and Executive amendment...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
Is the member proposing that Scotland's or the UK's energy needs should be determined by public opinion polls?
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
In that case, I wonder why Mr Blair put the road charging petition on the 10 Downing Street website and sought people's views. Why would he do that if he doe...