Hansard

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...