Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q1. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential for new nuclear power sites in Scotland. (906510)

So Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Yeah, yeah. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Secretary of State not agree that actually State not agree that actually renewables require a considerable expense connecting to the grid? And

11:36

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

expense connecting to the grid? And would not the former nuclear sites of Hunterston, Torness and Dounreay make very suitable sites for new nuclear power stations from which the Scottish people have benefited the Scottish people have benefited hugely in the past?

11:36

Mr Peter Bedford MP (Mid Leicestershire, Conservative)

- -

Mr. speaker, I should declare an interest in that. Torness is, of course, in Lothian East. My constituency provides about 750 well-paid, highly paid, unionised jobs. Of course, we would welcome the opportunity either for Amr, SMR the opportunity either for Amr, SMR or new Build Nuclear on the Torness site. But when you talk to the EDF management there, they say the opposition of the Scottish Government is what is preventing equivalent investment from the kind that we saw recently announced at that we saw recently announced at Torness plant in Hartlepool.

11:37

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP (North Cotswolds, Conservative)

- -

Alison Griffiths.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At number 12, sorry, number 15 please. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A key plank of the SNP's dogmatic argument of the SNP's dogmatic argument against new nuclear is cost. Will the right hon. Gentleman find a quiet moment, perhaps when the

11:37

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

quiet moment, perhaps when the winds fall light and the turbines stop to point out to them the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

reduced costs of small modular reactors? Yeah. Well, of course there are new technologies emerging, as the hon. Lady recognises, and we are delighted that Rolls-Royce are one of the companies in the lead in of the companies in the lead in terms of that new wave of nuclear technology. But you don't even need to look to the future. Look at the to look to the future. Look at the most recent past, where there are occasions where the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine in Scotland.

That is why Torness Scotland. That is why Torness provides significant baseload capability. We see new build nuclear as being an essential part of that energy mix going forward.

11:38

Alison Griffiths MP (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, Conservative)

- -

**** Possible New Speaker ****

of that energy mix going forward. Alas, the Scottish Government do not understand that. Ian Murray. Thank you. Mr. Speaker.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister agree that Scotland cannot meet its long term. Energy security and net zero

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Energy security and net zero goals without new nuclear power, and that centres such as the University of Strathclyde, University of Strathclyde, internationally recognised NDDC, whose expertise in grid integration and systems resilience is world leading, will be essential to the safe and effective deployment of next gen nuclear technologies across Scotland.

11:38

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

Yes. agree with my hon. Friend that the expertise of our research centres here in the United Kingdom, including the University of Strathclyde, NDDC, is absolutely critical to the crucial research that they are undertaking will help further the safe and effective deployment of new nuclear technology. We are watching a wave of nuclear technological innovation around the world. Alas, we need to make sure that not just our universities, but our communities that.

11:39

Katrina Murray MP (Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, Labour)

- -

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Last week, I spoke to trade unions in Scotland who argued that the ideological ban on nuclear power is costing young people career opportunities for well-paid and long term jobs. In my own constituency, an SNP councillor is spreading misinformation and arguing against highly skilled nuclear jobs, safely dismantling submarines at Rosyth. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that this pervasive and misinformed approach is holding back our country? And will he urge the First Minister to distance himself from the comments of the councillors in my constituency and welcome these jobs to Rosyth?

11:39

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

Yeah. reality is, as a government, we are investing £340 million in the Rosyth dockyard in Fife on Monday, met with five College, with Fife Chamber of Commerce, with Babcock's, with Navantia from down the coast. And there is a huge level of investment going in. But alas, we are in a position where the Scottish Government seems resistant to harnessing the potential of defence growth deals to secure new opportunities, not least for apprentices in Scotland.

11:40

Graeme Downie MP (Dunfermline and Dollar, Labour)

- -

The only read. have met with many employers, both local and national, who have expressed to. Put in parliamentary terms frustration at the SNP's lack of non-nuclear policy can. This is stopping my constituents from getting access to high quality jobs and preventing investment as well. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that this is a political choice which is stopping Scotland from actively receiving good quality jobs and investment? Hear, hear.

11:40

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

Mr. speaker, I find myself in agreement with my hon. Friend. This is not just an anti-jobs measure by the Scottish Government. I would argue it is an anti-science measure. Let us remember nuclear power is carbon free. Given the challenge that we face in relation to climate change, why would you want to resist a technology that can provide reliable, safe and cheap carbon free energy for decades to come?

11:41

Joani Reid MP (East Kilbride and Strathaven, Labour)

- -

Business Secretary Andrew Bowie. State congratulating Steve Clarke and the Scotland football team for qualifying for their first World Cup since I was 11 years old. I very much remember getting the afternoon off of school, and I. I hope that the speaker takes the same approach to the parliamentary days. My headteacher took to the school day. When we do have our first game next year. Scotland has a long, proud history of nuclear power generation. We have the schools, the sites and indeed the local support.

But we also have in the SNP Scottish government a Luddite mentality, choking off investment, preventing new jobs and going against the wishes of local communities like those in Dunbar that I know the Secretary State knows well who want to see Torness knows well who want to see Torness secured for future generations. So what does the Secretary think it will take for the SNP to join that growing list of countries around growing list of countries around the world and allow the global revolution in clean, safe nuclear power to reach Scotland?

11:41

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

Mr. speaker, I am happy to tell the hon. Gentleman what I think it will take. I think it will take a change of government next May and it is time for a new direction in Scotland.

11:42

Andrew Bowie MP (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Conservative)

- -

Diolch yn fawr.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

With permission, Mr. Speaker, I will answer questions two, ten and 12 together. Over the past year, we 12 together. Over the past year, we have increased the National Living Wage, a pay rise for 200,000 of the lowest paid Scots, delivered a lowest paid Scots, delivered a generational upgrade to workers rights, had five interest rate cuts and of course expanded the Warm and of course expanded the Warm Home discount scheme, meaning 1 in 5 Scottish households are getting £150 off their bills. But we do need £150 off their bills.

But we do need to go further and faster, and the Chancellor has pledged targeted

**** Possible New Speaker ****

action to bring down inflation further. Liz Saville-Roberts does indeed need to go further. The Scottish Government this morning laid the Government this morning laid the regulations necessary to mitigate the two child cap brought in by Labour and carried on by Labour.

11:42

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

Labour and carried on by Labour. Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is falling. It is the only part of Great Britain with a non-labour government. Does he recognise the huge role played by the Scottish Child Payment in tackling poverty head on? And does he agree with me that Labour and he agree with me that Labour and Cardiff Bay and Labour and Westminster should follow the. Scottish Government lead?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

It was part of a government that saw child poverty fall significantly. I believe that we significantly. I believe that we will be true to that commitment. I hope there may be more for the Chancellor to say in the coming minutes, but you can be assured minutes, but you can be assured that we welcome all measures that reduce child poverty after many years in which, tragically, we have seen poverty rise.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

seen poverty rise. Kirsty Blackman in the 16 months, then since the King's speech, when Labour MPs were whipped to vote

11:43

Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP (Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Plaid Cymru)

- -

Labour MPs were whipped to vote against scrapping the two child cap. How many children have been pitched

**** Possible New Speaker ****

into poverty as a result of his refusal to scrap the cap? Hear, hear.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Mr. speaker, we have always been clear that we wanted to take action on the basis of sound public finances. That is why it is a finances. That is why it is a Labour government that has been willing to take the difficult and challenging steps. I am old enough

11:44

challenging steps. I am old enough to remember the criticism from those benches after 1997, and we went on to lift record numbers of kids out of poverty. That is why I welcome the approach that has been taken by our Chancellor.

11:44

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

Mr. Logan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's just over 500 days since this government came to power, and the Chancellor's and the government's policies have been a disaster for the north east of Scotland for the cost of living problems, whether that's the impact of our National Insurance hikes on jobs and investment, the family jobs and investment, the family farm tax on agricultural sector, the energy profits levy which is killing jobs in the offshore sector, killing jobs in the offshore sector, or the raw deal offered to our fishing industry with the Coastal Growth Fund.

Can the Secretary of Growth Fund. Can the Secretary of State tell me and the House, should we expect the Chancellor to fix we expect the Chancellor to fix this mess that she has made, or will this Budget be another failure for the people of the North East who stay too long? who stay too long? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It won't surprise you that I'm not going to prejudge the announcements the Chancellor will be making from this Dispatch Box in just a few minutes time, but I certainly do not recognise the characterisation that he has offered of the first 15 or so months of this Labour government.

It was always going to take more than 18 months to undo the damage of the last 18 years. What we have seen is 200,000 Scots already seen is 200,000 Scots already lifted out of poverty record rises in the national minimum wage, and that work will continue. that work will continue.

11:45

Seamus Logan MP (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, Scottish National Party)

- -

Mr. speaker, this. upgrade to workers rights in a generation. Income security for many in my Edinburgh North and Leith constituency. I am not surprised that conservative peers are blocking it in the other place. However, my right hon. Friend share my constituents shock that the Liberal Democrats and now the green

**** Possible New Speaker ****

members are to. Mr. speaker, I would like to say

11:46

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Lothian East, Labour )

- -

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Mr. speaker, I would like to say I am shocked and surprised, but very little the Liberal Democrats do can shock or surprise me. The do can shock or surprise me. The truth is that the bill is expected to benefit people in the most deprived areas of the country by up to £600 in lost income from the hidden costs of insecure work. That is exactly the work we as a Labour

Feed Live - Click to view video

Return to start of debate - Return to top of page