Labour Minister concedes no new nuclear power stations will be built in Scotland
The UK Energy Minister has said there will be no new nuclear plants in Scotland because they would be blocked by the SNP Government. Michael Shanks said he disagreed with the Edinburgh administration’s position but said their stance was “legitimate”.
Shanks made his comments in an evidence session to Holyrood on the Labour Government’s plan for GB Energy. The publicly-owned company will be headquartered in Aberdeen and is aimed at spearheading a clean energy revolution.
Senior Labour figures and trade unionists want new nuclear to be part of the mix alongside renewables in the move away from fossil fuels.
READ MORE: Over 1500 Scots travelling to Somerset to work on new nuclear power station
But nuclear appears to have no future in Scotland as the SNP Government is opposed and can exercise a veto through the planning system.
Shanks conceded GB Energy would not push for new nuclear given the political realities at Holyrood. “Clearly we have a political difference on this. I do think nuclear has an important role to play, I think it has, aside from anything else, huge potential for jobs. I think the small modular reactor programme could have a real impact on Scotland,” he said.
“But the planning system in Scotland at the moment precludes that from happening and therefore Great British Energy, Great British Nuclear, operates within the landscape that the devolved administrations set.
“They’ve set a very clear statement that there will be no new nuclear in Scotland. I might disagree with that but that is the landscape they operate in and therefore there is no plans, there will be no engagement on that issue because it is very clear that those applications would be blocked by the Scottish Government and that is the legitimate position that the Scottish government [takes] on planning matters.”
He added that there was no “confrontation” and said GB Energy has to comply with the rules, regulations and planning statements in each part of the UK.
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