SNP promises to stick to no-nuclear stance

Published on Sunday 15 March 2009 22:43

SNP PLANS to make Scotland "nuclear free" have received a blow after it emerged that public opinion is against them.

A Scottish Government survey of 3,000 people has revealed that 53 per cent oppose its opposition to nuclear power.

Only 23 per cent supported the idea of blocking new nuclear power stations in the future.

The survey has reignited a debate on how to provide base energy supplies for Scotland in the future. The SNP has pledged to use devolved planning powers to veto new nuclear power stations, claiming that it wants to concentrate on renewable energy such as solar, wind and wave power.

However, critics have pointed out that renewable supplies, which can vary depending on conditions, need to be backed by power stations. Currently the SNP is intending to continue with coal-powered stations which have high carbon dioxide emissions.

The only alternative is nuclear power, but the SNP and environmentalists argue that it produces toxic waste, even though it has a zero carbon emission level.

Labour and the Conservatives have backed business sector calls for the SNP anti-nuclear policy to be reversed. But Alex Salmond, the First Minister, yesterday refused to back down when asked about the issue on the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

Scottish Conservative Party deputy leader, Murdo Fraser MSP said: "Once again Alex Salmond has got it wrong. We need a mix of energy sources otherwise the lights could go out over Scotland. Instead of closed minds, Scotland needs to embrace all the technologies at our disposal and this poll confirms once again that public opinion is better informed than the SNP."

However, energy minister Jim Mather, confirmed there would be no change of heart.

"The Scottish Government was elected on a policy of no new nuclear power stations, and Scotland's Parliament has since endorsed this position," he said.

"And when asked to choose between nuclear power and renewables, people responding to the survey rejected nuclear power by a massive majority."