Call for probe into radioactive leak in Scottish loch and ‘cover-up'
A joint investigation from The Guardian and The Ferret – also reported by the BBC – found that the material was released into Loch Long in Argyll and Bute.
It comes after a six-year battle to access documents which involved Scotland's information commissioner.
READ MORE: Three new cancer drugs approved for use for NHS Scotland
The investigation revealed that files compiled by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) – the environment watchdog – stated the Royal Navy failed to properly maintain a network of 1500 pipes at the Coulport armaments depot.
Coulport holds the Royal Navy's supply of nuclear warheads for its fleet of Trident submarines, which are based at HMNB Clyde at Faslane, near Helensburgh.
Sepa said the issues at Coulport, which date back to a pipe burst in 2010, were caused by "shortfalls in maintenance".
One incident listed in the files, which took place in August 2019, resulted in the release of "unnecessary radioactive waste" in the form of low levels of tritium, which is used in nuclear warheads.
The environment watchdog insisted that its assessments found the risk to the environment from effluent discharges was "of no regulatory concern".
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there had been "no unsafe releases of radioactive material" into the environment.
The files were released after a ruling by Scottish information commissioner David Hamilton, who oversees the country's freedom of information laws.
According to The Guardian and The Ferret, the UK Government allegedly insisted the files had to be kept secret for national security reasons.
However, in June Hamilton ruled that most of the files had to be released as their disclosure did not threaten national security but "reputations".
Now, the Scottish Greens have called for an investigation to be launched.
(Image: PA)
"It is scandalous, but given the long list of previous incidents at Faslane and Coulport, its sadly no surprise,' MSP for West Scotland Ross Greer (above) said.
"The Ministry of Defence has long played fast and loose with these weapons of mass slaughter, throwing billions at private contractors whilst failing to even maintain its own facilities.'
He added: "These revelations will have been particularly chilling for my constituents who live near the site. To reassure them, UK Ministers must now investigate and explain why it happened and the steps they are taking to ensure it never does again. We need full transparency and accountability, not more secrecy.
'Nuclear weapons are a moral obscenity. They have no place in Scotland. These incidents underline the direct risk to the local communities who host them.
"It's time to disarm our waters and get these dangerous weapons of mass slaughter out of Scotland."
READ MORE: Historic English fuel firm opening new Scottish head office in Grangemouth
Commenting on the issue, ALBA depute leader Neale Hanvey added: 'This is a disgraceful cover-up by the UK Government. Radioactive leaks into Scottish waters were kept secret to protect Westminster's nuclear obsession—not our communities.
'The UK government and MoD have form when it come to this. When I challenged them on radiation leaks in 2023 their response raised more questions than it answered.
'Scotland is treated as a dumping ground for weapons we don't want and dangers we didn't vote for. Independence is the only way we rid ourselves of nuclear weapons and end this toxic disregard for our nation's safety.'
A MoD spokesperson previously said: "We place the upmost importance on our responsibilities for handling radioactive substances safely and securely.
"There have been no unsafe releases of radioactive material into the environment at any stage.
"We frequently engage with regulators who report there is no significant impact on the environment or public health and are supportive of an open reporting culture."
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The Government's plans for turning around the attainment gap between white working class children and their peers is due to be set out in the autumn. Students who are receiving their A-level and level 3 vocational and technical qualification results were in Year 8 when schools closed because of the pandemic. This cohort of school and college leavers received their GCSE results in 2023 – the first year that grading was returned to pre-pandemic levels in England. In Wales and Northern Ireland, exam regulators returned to pre-pandemic grading in 2024 – a year later than in England. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said A-level grades have returned to a 'consistent standard' since the pandemic and he would expect that to 'broadly continue' this year. But Mr Di'Iasio told the PA news agency: 'Unfortunately, we also expect to see the continuation of persistent inequities in terms of performance gaps between different regions and students. 'This is a product of longstanding socio-economic factors which require a much more concerted society-wide effort to fix.' He added: 'The legacy of Covid is part of this picture, with the disruption caused by the pandemic likely to have had the greatest impact on students from disadvantaged homes. 'Schools and colleges have put huge efforts into supporting these young people, but without sufficient Government action to help them, and in the face of an extremely difficult situation caused by funding and teacher shortages. 'The current Government has made the right noises but unfortunately this has so far not been matched by the improved investment in education which is so clearly required.' Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said: 'We must brace ourselves for stark divides in A-level results this year — not only between state and private schools, but also between London and other regions such as the South West and North East. 'In recent years, the gap in top grades — As and A*s, the passports to the most selective universities — has grown alarmingly, undermining efforts to widen access. 'These inequities are being driven by a toxic mix of the cost-of-living crisis, rising poverty, persistent school absence, and the long shadow of Covid. 'Unless we act, we risk locking in generational divides that will shape life chances for decades, with all our social mobility indicators now flashing red.' For many students, receiving their exam results on Thursday will also bring confirmation of university places. Last week, Jo Saxton, head of Ucas, suggested a record number of 18-year-olds could be successful in securing their first-choice university on results day. British universities are keen to recruit UK students because there is more 'uncertainty' around international students, she suggested. On the day before A-level results day, a PA sample of 129 of the UK's largest higher education providers showed there were 22,518 courses with vacancies for undergraduate students living in England on the Ucas clearing site – which matches applicants to university places yet to be filled. As of Wednesday afternoon, 18 of the 24 Russell Group universities, which represent some of the most selective UK institutions, had vacancies on courses for English residents – a total of 3,492 courses between them. Clearing is available to students who do not meet the conditions of their offer on A-level results day, as well as those who did not receive any offers. 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Sir Ian Bauckham, chief regulator at Ofqual, England's exams regulator, said: 'Ahead of students receiving their results we would like to recognise the valuable contributions made by their teachers who have put so much work into getting students to this important day. 'Exam results can change people's lives, and underpinning these defining moments is a well-regulated system of widely recognised and valued assessments and qualifications.' Scotland has a different qualification system and students received their results on Tuesday last week. Figures released by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) showed that 78.4% of those sitting National 5 exams passed with grades A to C – up from 77.2% last year. For Highers, 75.9% passed with the top bands, up from 74.9% last year, and for Advanced Highers 76.7% of students achieved A to C grades, up from 75.3% last year.
