Ministers told to ‘stop pussyfooting around' and end nuclear block in Scotland
UK ministers have been told to 'stop pussyfooting around' and work to end the block on nuclear power from the Scottish Government.
While Scotland has a long history of electricity generation from nuclear, its sole remaining nuclear power station is at Torness, where operations have been extended to 2030.
The Scottish Government is against the building of any new nuclear power plants.
Scottish Labour peer Lord Foulkes of Cumnock told the House of Lords earlier this week that, while he respects the role of the the executive in Holyrood, it is time to end the blockers.
He said on Tuesday: 'Surely now is the time to stop pussyfooting around when the Scottish Government say that they are quite willing to accept, in the future, electricity generated by nuclear in England?
'Given that energy is a reserved area, surely we should look at ways of stopping the blockers in Scotland, as well as in the rest of the United Kingdom.'
Former Tory Cabinet minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean added: ' Power devolved is power retained.
'If the Scottish Government are not acting in the interests of the United Kingdom, with their opposition to nuclear power and to oil and gas, that will create great difficulties for the rest of the United Kingdom.
'Has the minister considered taking back the power from them to prevent the appropriate infrastructure needs of the country as a whole?'
Energy minister Lord Hunt of King's Heath said: 'In Scotland, nationally significant infrastructure projects, including nuclear, are broadly reserved.
'However, Scottish ministers have devolved executive competence for planning decisions for improving applications to build, operate or modify electricity-generating stations with capacities exceeding 50 megawatts in Scotland. We are not in a position to make a change to that.'
He added: 'I do not think it is the case that we should reopen the devolution settlement…
'I think it is clear that, overall, new nuclear has a huge role to play in the baseload that it can provide and in clean power.
'The move towards the final investment decision on Sizewell, progress on Hinkley Point C, the SMR programme and the potential of advanced modular reactors will give us a hugely important foundation for clean power for Great Britain as a whole.'
Former MSP Baroness Curran told peers: 'I speak as a former planning minister in the Scottish Government. The best way to address this case is not more conflict with the Scottish Government, but promoting the argument for nuclear power in a positive way.'
She added that if Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar becomes first minister, the party will be able to 'resolve this problem'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
25 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Scottish city to transform its skyline to become UK's 'mini New York'
Glasgow is set to grow taller with plans for new skyscrapers in Charing Cross, Anderston Quay, Trongate and Cowcaddens. Glasgow's skyline could soon rival that of New York as city chiefs unveil bold plans to welcome high-rise development and reshape the urban horizon. Already arranged in a grid pattern reminiscent of the Big Apple, Scotland's largest city now appears ready to grow upwards as confidently as it has grown outwards. A newly published Tall Building Designs Guide from Glasgow City Council pinpoints four strategic areas, Charing Cross, Anderston Quay, Trongate and Cowcaddens, as front-runners for future skyscraper schemes, Express reports. The move marks a decisive break from previous decades, when building heights were curbed well below those seen in comparable European cities. By relaxing those limits, planners hope to bring fresh energy, investment and people into the heart of Glasgow. At present, the city's tallest building is Buchanan Wharf in Tradeston, which rises to 80 metres and also holds the title of Scotland's tallest building. Yet even that landmark is dwarfed by the UK's loftiest structures, such as The Shard in London, soaring to nearly 310 metres, and Deansgate Square South Tower in Manchester at 201 metres. The tallest structure in Glasgow overall remains the Science Centre's Glasgow Tower, a 127-metre needle that can rotate a full 360 degrees, the highest fully revolving tower anywhere in the world. Council leaders say the new guidance reflects a 'significant' shift in strategy, aimed squarely at addressing the city's relatively low centre-city population density, which they argue has long hampered economic momentum. 'Glasgow is unique among Scottish cities in having the scope to build upwards,' officers note in the report. 'Shaped by this Tall Buildings guidance, it is confidently expected the city skyline will change, building towards the kind of city-centre population density that is commonplace in European cities, and the comparable lack of which is an acknowledged barrier to growth in the UK.' The document also presses for more mixed-use projects, encouraging developers to weave retail and leisure venues into ground floors to boost daytime buzz and evening footfall alike. Councillors on the City Administration Committee are due to vote on final approval soon, a decision likely to set the tone for Glasgow's skyline for decades. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for development and land use, framed the guidance as a cornerstone of wider ambitions to expand both population and prosperity. 'Tall buildings will play a significant role in our ambition to grow the city centre population, and encouraging major construction projects will be a boost for the local economy and employment,' he said. 'Having clear parameters of what we will support, and where, will give clarity to residents and assurances to those who wish to invest and develop in our city. "Glasgow is very much open for business, and if we want to see a thriving city, then we need to build it.'
Telegraph
31 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Miliband's latest misstep will pile unnecessary costs upon developers
Ed Miliband's attempt to lead this country was resoundingly rejected at the ballot box in 2015. Given his influence within the present Government, he may have had the last laugh. The Energy Secretary appears to have emerged triumphant in a clash with embattled Chancellor Rachel Reeves, securing the future of a £13 billion funding allocation for insulating properties across Britain, and very possibly triggering further tax rises this autumn. Having secured access to the fruits of your wallet, Mr Miliband has now turned his sights to redefining British architecture. Under plans revealed today, developers will be forced to install solar panels in the 'vast majority' of new houses, and gas boilers will effectively be banned in newbuilds in favour of heat pumps. The Energy Secretary claims that the moves could save households £500 a year on their energy bills, but appears to have neglected to consider the likely effect on development costs. There are few objections to people choosing to install solar panels, or choosing to buy a house with a heat pump. That builders confronted with market demand are not already supplying them suggests, however, that any premium people are willing to pay for these features will not cover the costs of installing them. The last thing Britain's capacity constrained housing market needs is another effort to pile unnecessary costs upon developers. Measures to ease building are drastically needed. Regrettably, Mr Miliband seems to think otherwise.
Channel 4
an hour ago
- Channel 4
Scottish Labour secures by-election win over SNP and Reform
Labour's been celebrating after winning a surprise victory over the SNP in a fiercely contested by-election. The result in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will come as a relief for their Scottish leader, Anas Sarwar, who's hoping to become First Minister in the Scottish Parliament elections next year. It was also the first big test for Reform UK in Scotland, after their recent success in English local elections. They came a close third – a rise they've described as 'truly remarkable.'
