Independent study on nuclear power needs

Published on Thursday 15 January 2009 22:30

ALEX Salmond, the First Minister, has been persuaded to allow an independent study into whether Scotland needs nuclear power.

The admission came in his government's response to a report last year by his Council of Economic Advisers.

However, ahead of a meeting today with the council chaired by the former RBS chief Sir George Mathewson, Mr Salmond insisted that his government's opposition to nuclear power had not changed.

The Scottish Government has said it will use its planning powers to block new nuclear power stations and wants to press ahead with renewable energy sources.

It has, however, been under pressure from business leaders to drop this policy and accept some nuclear power.

But Mr Salmond claimed that an independent study would vindicate his position in both economic and environmental terms.

"I accept that people might not believe me as the First Minister so why not have an independent study which I am confident will support what I am saying," he said.

Mr Salmond also repeated calls for Scotland to have borrowing powers. He questioned why the Northern Ireland Assembly had 2 billion of borrowing powers and the Scottish Parliament had none.

He said with private finance initiatives taking away the flexibility of devolved administrations the need for borrowing powers was essential.