Harper calls for nuclear weapons road risk probe

Published on Sunday 5 August 2007 00:43

GREEN party leader Robin Harper has demanded an inquiry into roads being used to transport nuclear weapons.

The Lothians MSP has written to First Minister Alex Salmond claiming emergency planning exercises show that government agencies are ill-prepared for an accident.

Harper, whose party has a co-operation agreement with the SNP government, wants the review to cover the potential effects in areas affected by any serious road traffic accidents.

He also wants current safety planning by civilian organisations studied, as well as any suggested measures for coping with the effects of a major disaster.

Harper said: "Weapons of mass destruction are a danger to the Scottish people and the environment and risks are taken almost daily with the transport of deadly cargo up and down our roads.

"Although the political majority to block these transports is not yet readily available, at the very least the public should be aware of the dangers and the emergency planning system should be opened for clear inspection."

In a letter to Salmond, Harper claims nuclear weapons are regularly transported between military bases in Faslane and Burghfield in the south of England.