SNP's anti-nuclear stance 'will hit job hopes'

Published on Monday 9 November 2009 21:51

THE Scottish Government was accused yesterday of blocking the creation of thousands of jobs by opposing new nuclear power stations north of the Border.

Scotland has two operational nuclear sites – Hunterston and Torness – but the SNP government is refusing to sanction new reactors.

Hunterston employs about 670 staff, while Torness has just under 600 full-time workers. But UK ministers claim that new roles will be created by the next generation of reactors.

Environment Secretary Ed Miliband yesterday unveiled plans to commission ten new reactors, nine in England and one in Wales.

He said: "New nuclear is right for energy security and climate change – and will be good for jobs too, creating up to 9,000 jobs (per station] to build and operate power stations."

The SNP government has said there is "no chance" of a new generation of nuclear power plants in Scotland.

Mike Weir, the SNP's energy spokesman at Westminster, said:

"Scotland is capitalising on our vast clean, green energy potential instead of following London Labour's blind faith in costly, dirty, dangerous and unreliable nuclear power. Labour must recognise that there is no appetite and absolutely no need for new nuclear power stations north of the Border."

But Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said new nuclear power plants would create thousands of jobs. "None will be situated in Scotland because of the SNP's incompetence and dogma," he said.

David Mundell, the shadow Scottish secretary, said the SNP's policy amounted to a "lost opportunity". He continued:

"Alex Salmond's position means that Scotland will end up being importers of nuclear energy from England."