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Nuclear future 'key for Scotland' Nuclear future 'key for Scotland'
(9 minutes later)
Scotland needs to have a nuclear future to secure energy supplies and jobs, the Scottish secretary has insisted.Scotland needs to have a nuclear future to secure energy supplies and jobs, the Scottish secretary has insisted.
At a conference in Edinburgh, Jim Murphy underlined Westminster's intention to promote the expansion of nuclear energy.At a conference in Edinburgh, Jim Murphy underlined Westminster's intention to promote the expansion of nuclear energy.
The Scottish Government is opposed to building new nuclear plants and can effectively veto them through planning powers held at Holyrood.The Scottish Government is opposed to building new nuclear plants and can effectively veto them through planning powers held at Holyrood.
But Mr Murphy said nuclear development was key to UK energy policy.But Mr Murphy said nuclear development was key to UK energy policy.
Westminster favours expansion to ensure security of energy supplies in the future and to help the UK meet its CO2 reduction targets.Westminster favours expansion to ensure security of energy supplies in the future and to help the UK meet its CO2 reduction targets.
Mr Murphy criticised the Scottish Government policy as contradicting the best interests of Scottish consumers and being at odds with political consensus across Europe.Mr Murphy criticised the Scottish Government policy as contradicting the best interests of Scottish consumers and being at odds with political consensus across Europe.
If we are going to hit our carbon emissions targets we have to take all carbon out of all electricity production Jim MurphyScottish secretary Speaking ahead of the conference he told BBC Scotland: "Most people realise that one of the challenges is how do we produce enough energy for Scotland and the UK in a way that is kind to the environment. He told the conference that his father helped build South Africa's first nuclear power station when his family lived in that country in the 1980s. It is a source of regret that such common sense thinking is not replicated here by the Scottish Government in Edinburgh Jim MurphyScottish secretary
"If we are going to hit our carbon emissions targets we have to take all carbon out of all electricity production." "That experience shaped my family and my politics," he said.
Mr Murphy said renewables could not be enough on their own and he wanted to see the lifetime of Scotland's current nuclear plants extended and approval for further development. He added: "Two-thirds of the world's carbon dioxide comes from energy use, so it is clear why achieving a balanced energy mix is essential to a climate change solution.
"In the long-term I would like to see Scotland as an enormous world centre for renewables but also with nuclear as part of a carbon-free electricity production here in Scotland and across the UK," he said. "It is a source of regret however that such common sense thinking is not replicated here by the Scottish Government in Edinburgh."
By 2025 all but one of Britain's nuclear stations will have ended service and without new nuclear plant Scotland may depend on electricity imported from across the border in peak periods.
Mr Murphy said: "Scottish self-reliance without new nuclear generation is imaginary."
He said ministers in London had been "convinced" by the evidence for a new generation of power stations, better designed and more efficient than those they replaced.
Hazardous wasteHazardous waste
But the SNP accused Mr Murphy of trying to "bully" Scottish Labour and Scotland into supporting nuclear energy. "In contrast Scotland - or indeed your industry - is yet to hear any convincing energy-based argument against nuclear power generation from the SNP-led Scottish Government," he told the conference.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The big question at the heart of the nuclear debate is the one that's never been answered. "While they refuse to permit the construction of new reactors here north of the border, they also refuse to offer any sophisticated argument for why this negative policy is in Scotland's interests," he said.
Mr Murphy said he was happy to work with the Scottish Government on this "important issue".
But the SNP accused him of trying to "bully" Scottish Labour and Scotland into supporting nuclear energy.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The big question at the heart of the nuclear debate is the one that's never been answered. The fact of the matter is that there is no public acceptance of new Labour's dash for nuclear power in Scotland Alistair Carmichael MP Liberal Democrats
"We don't know what to do with the waste from the current generation of nuclear power stations - experts say that waste from a new generation might be seven times as hazardous."We don't know what to do with the waste from the current generation of nuclear power stations - experts say that waste from a new generation might be seven times as hazardous.
"Until we can answer those questions I think it's irresponsible for anybody to be arguing for new nuclear power stations.""Until we can answer those questions I think it's irresponsible for anybody to be arguing for new nuclear power stations."
The Liberal Democrats also criticised the Scottish secretary's comments.
Alistair Carmichael MP said: "It is well known that the diary of the Secretary of State for Scotland does not suffer from being overfilled but one has to wonder exactly why Jim Murphy is attending a conference of this sort.
"The fact of the matter is that there is no public acceptance of new Labour's dash for nuclear power in Scotland."
Lord O'Neil of Clackmannan, chairman of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, claimed figures had shown increasing support for nuclear in Scotland.Lord O'Neil of Clackmannan, chairman of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, claimed figures had shown increasing support for nuclear in Scotland.
He said: "Clearly, an increasing number of Scottish people believe that the road to greater energy security in Scotland includes an increase in the use of nuclear power."He said: "Clearly, an increasing number of Scottish people believe that the road to greater energy security in Scotland includes an increase in the use of nuclear power."
The debate comes as the Crown Estate has given the go-ahead for companies to explore 10 offshore sites around Scotland with a view to developing wind farms. The debate comes as the Crown Estate gave the go-ahead for companies to explore 10 offshore sites around Scotland with a view to developing wind farms.
The nuclear industry employs about 9,000 people in Scotland.The nuclear industry employs about 9,000 people in Scotland.