Dundee LibDems welcome clarification over nuclear veto
Dundee Liberal Democrats have today (Wednesday 21st June 2006) welcomed news that, in responding to a question from Jo Swinson MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, during Prime Minister's Questions, Tony Blair conceded that Holyrood will have the power to decide whether new nuclear power stations are built in Scotland.
The Scottish Executive has control of planning policy and it has been thought that the final say over building new nuclear power stations would rest with Holyrood, where the Liberal Democrats strongly oppose proposals for new nuclear sites.
Concerns were raised last month when during a speech to the Confederation of British Industry, the Prime Minister pre-empted the Department for Trade and Industry's Energy Review by spelling out his intention to press ahead with new nuclear build.
"I am very pleased that the Prime Minister has accepted that Scotland's government has the right of veto over new nuclear power stations in Scotland," said Dundee City Council LibDem leader Cllr Fraser Macpherson. "Scottish Liberal Democrats will continue to strongly oppose Labour's obsession with nuclear power."