Chamber
Plenary, 21 Feb 2007
21 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Environment
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 way for a few things, not least taking Britain into an illegal war. It will also be surrounded by the suspicion of cash for peerages. The decision by Mr Justice Sullivan just last week must also rank among those scars on our democracy.
As others have said, Greenpeace is to be congratulated in pursuing its legal action and in highlighting the Government's failure to disclose key information on the new generation of nuclear power stations, mostly to do with the disposal of nuclear waste and the financial costs. Alex Johnstone should be reminded that nuclear power meets only 3.6 per cent of our total energy demand. Under any nuclear new-build programme, the first reactor would not come online until 2018 at the earliest, with the main delivery of the programme not happening until around 2025 to 2030. That is not in this generation.
If there was no further delay on the Peterhead carbon capture project, that could be up and running by 2009, at a projected cost of $1 billion. If the minister wants to know, the money for that could come from stopping sending our troops to Iraq, and perhaps also from the nuclear weapons programme.
A 4 per cent saving could also be achieved by insisting on energy conservation measures on the part of housebuilders and businesses, which should make it a priority for their workplaces. It is a relief that the Executive has at last managed to decide to support the wave and tidal industries and to take Scotland another step on the way to becoming a renewable energy powerhouse, confirming the huge potential for carbon-free energy generation that exists around Scotland, rather than allowing projects to go to Portugal.
Perhaps Scottish ministers could now turn their attention to chivvying Gordon Brown into supporting carbon capture technology and to getting behind the Peterhead project. The project will convert natural gas to hydrogen and CO2. The hydrogen will be used as clean fuel for a 350MW power station, and the CO2 will be pumped into the North sea oil reservoirs for the purposes of increased oil recovery and, ultimately, storage. It is disingenuous for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to say that he has to compare Peterhead with other projects, which are nowhere near as far down the road. Carbon capture and storage clearly have the potential to add to the growth strategy of Scotland and to reduce our CO2 footprint.
Aberdeen, the north and the north-east are clearly ready and willing to be the global energy hub, with the development of the Aberdeen science and energy park, an energy academy and an energy technologies institute all in the pipeline or ready to go. That is exciting news for Scotland, and we do not need nuclear power.
As this Blair Government thankfully nears its end, it will be remembered in a negative and discredited way for a few things, not least taking Britain into an illegal war. It will also be surrounded by the suspicion of cash for peerages. The decision by Mr Justice Sullivan just last week must also rank among those scars on our democracy.
As others have said, Greenpeace is to be congratulated in pursuing its legal action and in highlighting the Government's failure to disclose key information on the new generation of nuclear power stations, mostly to do with the disposal of nuclear waste and the financial costs. Alex Johnstone should be reminded that nuclear power meets only 3.6 per cent of our total energy demand. Under any nuclear new-build programme, the first reactor would not come online until 2018 at the earliest, with the main delivery of the programme not happening until around 2025 to 2030. That is not in this generation.
If there was no further delay on the Peterhead carbon capture project, that could be up and running by 2009, at a projected cost of $1 billion. If the minister wants to know, the money for that could come from stopping sending our troops to Iraq, and perhaps also from the nuclear weapons programme.
A 4 per cent saving could also be achieved by insisting on energy conservation measures on the part of housebuilders and businesses, which should make it a priority for their workplaces. It is a relief that the Executive has at last managed to decide to support the wave and tidal industries and to take Scotland another step on the way to becoming a renewable energy powerhouse, confirming the huge potential for carbon-free energy generation that exists around Scotland, rather than allowing projects to go to Portugal.
Perhaps Scottish ministers could now turn their attention to chivvying Gordon Brown into supporting carbon capture technology and to getting behind the Peterhead project. The project will convert natural gas to hydrogen and CO2. The hydrogen will be used as clean fuel for a 350MW power station, and the CO2 will be pumped into the North sea oil reservoirs for the purposes of increased oil recovery and, ultimately, storage. It is disingenuous for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to say that he has to compare Peterhead with other projects, which are nowhere near as far down the road. Carbon capture and storage clearly have the potential to add to the growth strategy of Scotland and to reduce our CO2 footprint.
Aberdeen, the north and the north-east are clearly ready and willing to be the global energy hub, with the development of the Aberdeen science and energy park, an energy academy and an energy technologies institute all in the pipeline or ready to go. That is exciting news for Scotland, and we do not need nuclear power.
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...