Difference between revisions of "Cross Party Group on the Civil Nuclear Industry"

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Key Personnel
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{{Template:NuclearSpin}}
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==Lobbying controversy==
  
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[[John Home Robertson]]
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The Scottish equivalent of the [[All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy]] was set up by MSPs to promote &#39;consideration and discussion of aspects of the civil nuclear industry which come within the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament, including environmental, economic and planning issues relating to the commissioning, operation and decommissioning of nuclear plant, and liaison with interested groups, including management and employees in the industry and other stakeholders."<ref>[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/crossPartyGroups/groups/cpg-cni.htm Scottish Parliament website]</ref> It is supposed to be neutral on nuclear power.
  
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The Scottish equivilent of the [[All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy]] has been      set up by MSPs to promote “consideration and discussionâ€? of the civil nuclear industry, including planning issues and decommissioning. It is supposed to be neutral on nuclear power. But this seems not to be the case.
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On the eve of the launch of the [[Energy Review (UK 2006)|2006 energy review]], the Scottish ''Sunday Herald'' revealed that the CPG had "failed to declare the administrative support it receives from nuclear power firm [[British Energy]] that runs eight power stations in the UK. Services include drafting agendas and taking minutes of meetings, none of which is made available to the public." The newspaper also reported that the CPG was given presentations by the [[Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)]] and the nuclear waste agency, [[Nirex]], and had gone on a trip to a nuclear power station with its UK counterpart, the [[Nuclear Energy APPG]]. <ref>[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 ''The Sunday Herald'']</ref>
  
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Acccording to a report in the Sunday Herald [[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711]], the Scotttish Parliament has been asked to investigate  whether the Cross Party Group "flouted anti-sleaze rules" as it has "has failed to register a number of trips and dinners financed by organisations that support the controversial energy source."
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According to the ''Sunday Herald'', the Scottish Parliament has been asked to investigate  whether the Cross Party Group "flouted anti-sleaze rules" as it has "has failed to register a number of trips and dinners financed by organisations that support the controversial energy source." <ref>[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 ''The Sunday Herald'']</ref>
  
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According to the paper "Critics say the group has broken the MSPs’ code of conduct and compromised the forum’s impartiality by accepting financial benefits from outfits that back new reactors. They want parliament to examine the role of commercial lobbyists in arranging meetings between their pro-nuclear clients and politicians".
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"The group&#39;s register also leaves the 'financial benefits' section blank, despite Holyrood rules requiring CPGs to register 'financial or other benefits' exceeding £250 received from any source. "But last August, nuclear plant operator British Nuclear Fuels Limited funded 'accommodation' costs for MSPs to visit the reprocessing plant at Sellafield".
  
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But the Sunday Herald can reveal that the group, chaired by pro-nuclear Labour MSP John Home Roberston, may have broken rules by failing to declare the backing it receives from the industry.
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"Weeks later, the CPG and its Westminster equivalent, the all-party group on nuclear energy, attended a dinner paid for them by the nuclear industry. This was preceded months earlier by a trip to Torness, home to one of Scotland&#39;s nuclear plants, part of which was funded by British Energy".
  
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The CPG didn’t mention on its website that secretarial support is provided by British Energy, the pro-nuclear company that runs eight power stations in the UK. Services include drafting agendas and taking minutes of meetings, none of which is made available to the public.
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According to the paper,
  
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The group’s register also leaves the “financial benefits� section blank, despite Holyrood rules requiring CPGs to register “financial or other benefits� exceeding £250 received from any source.
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:Critics say the group has broken the MSPs&#39; code of conduct and compromised the forum&#39;s impartiality by accepting financial benefits from outfits that back new reactors. They want parliament to examine the role of commercial lobbyists in arranging meetings between their pro-nuclear clients and politicians.
  
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But last August, nuclear plant operator British Nuclear Fuels Limited funded “accommodation� costs for MSPs to visit the reprocessing plant at Sellafield.
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==Secret spinners==
  
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Weeks later, the CPG and its Westminster equivalent, the all-party group on nuclear energy, attended a dinner paid for them by the nuclear industry. This was preceded months earlier by a trip to Torness, home to one of Scotland’s nuclear plants, part of which was funded by British Energy.
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According to the newspaper, after it "...started making enquiries about the group last week, the name of a well-known lobbyist mentioned on the website was erased." The lobbyist in question is [[Thomas Docherty]], as illustrated by [[:Image:Scottish-civil-nuclear-cpg-in-yahoo-cache-26jan06.jpg|this screenshot of the old version of the CPG's website]], which was still in the Yahoo cache a few days after ''The Herald'' report was published.<ref>Civil Nuclear Industry Scottish CPG Website, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Image:Scottish-civil-nuclear-cpg-in-yahoo-cache-26jan06.jpg].</ref>
  
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Presentations have also been given to the CPG by the Nuclear Decommission Agency (NDA) and radioactive waste body Nirex, which last week briefed MSPs in parliament.
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In addition, the website listing for Nirex's representative on the CPG was altered: [[Rachel Robertson]] (daughter of former NATO Secretary General [[George Robertson]]) from [[Fleishman-Hillard]] was on the Group, although she was listed as being from [[Nirex]] and not the PR company itself. <ref>Standards Committee Meeting Agenda, [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/standards/papers-05/stp05-02.pdf Scottish Paliament website], 22 February, 2005.</ref>
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She was replaced by [[Ian Price]]. Unless there are two Ian Prices working for Nirex in Edinburgh, this is the same person who is a member of staff of [[Fleishman-Hillard]], based in the PR firm's Edinburgh office, <ref>[http://www.appc.org.uk/registers/APPC_register_June05-Nov05.pdf APPC website]</ref> and is seconded to Nirex. <ref>[http://www.nirex.co.uk/foi/nxconsult/oldsitelistworkshop_2005.pdf Nirex website]</ref> If so, the fact that he is a public relations professional is not disclosed on the CPG's website. <ref>[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/crossPartyGroups/groups/cpg-cni.htm Scottish Parliament website]</ref>
  
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Alex Johnstone MSP, co-convener of the CPG, said: “If there is any doubt that the rules have been followed to the letter, it would be appropriate for these events to be considered.�
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==Members==
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Information as of 25 January, 2005 <ref>[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/crossPartyGroups/groups/cpg-cni.htm Scottish Parliament website]</ref>
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===MSPs===
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*[[Shiona Baird]]
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*[[Richard Baker]]
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*[[Chris Ballance]]
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*[[Murdo Fraser]]
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*[[Phil Gallie]]
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*[[Karen Gillon]]
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*[[John Home Robertson]]
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*[[Alex Johnstone]]
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*[[Michael McMahon]]
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*[[Duncan McNeil]]
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*[[Christine May]]
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*[[Alasdair Morrison]]
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*Dr [[Elaine Murray]]
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*[[Mary Scanlon]]
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*[[John Scott]]
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*[[Stewart Stevenson]]
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*[[Jamie Stone]]
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*[[John Swinburne]]
  
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Another concern is that commercial lobbyists seem to be helping pro-nuclear groups access MSPs. The NDA, which is stepping up its Scottish activities, relies on public affairs firm Bell Pottinger to liaise with the parliament.
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===Non-MSPs===
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*[[Neil Cardwell]] - researcher for Richard Baker MSP
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*[[Tony King]] - MSP researcher
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*[[Ian Price]] - The [[Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive (Nirex)]]
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*[[Linda Smith]] - [[British Energy]]
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*[[Simon Tiernan]] - researcher for John Home Robertson MSP
  
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The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), responsible for decommissioning existing facilities, employs lobbyists Grayling Political Strategy to organise events such as the “stakeholder reception� this Wednesday. In addition, Nirex pays US-owned Fleishman Hillard to keep abreast of nuclear issues at Holyrood and to maintain a dialogue with the CPG.
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==External links==
  
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After the Sunday Herald started making enquiries about the group last week, the name of a well-known lobbyist mentioned on the website was erased.
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*[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/crossPartyGroups/groups/cpg-cni.htm Homepage of the Civil Nuclear Industry CPG]
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*[http://www.nirex.co.uk/foi/nxconsult/oldsitelistworkshop_2005.pdf Old site list publication stakeholder workshop] (PDF), Nirex, May 26, 2005. Mentions Ian Price.
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*[http://www.appc.org.uk/registers/APPC_register_June05-Nov05.pdf APCO UK register, June-Nov 2005] (PDF). Mentions Ian Price.
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*[http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/press/pr20050315.html MP ENERGY REPORT "DOES NOT BACK NEW NUCLEAR PLANTS"] Friends of the Earth Scotland
  
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Green MSP Chris Ballance, who is a member of the CPG, admitted: “I have always been concerned with the pro-nuclear direction of the group, as it is supposed to be impartial.�
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===Articles===
  
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SSP leader Colin Fox demanded an inquiry and said. “The standards committee should investigate this cross party group as soon as possible. Given the undeclared financial help it has received, it seems it is a front for the nuclear lobby.�
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*Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January, 2006.
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*Rob Edwards, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/55029 Leading scientists attack Blair over nuclear power]", ''Sunday Herald'', 9 April, 2006.
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*Magnus Linklater, "[http://living.scotsman.com/people.cfm?id=713232006 Linklater's Scotland]", ''The Scotsman'', 14 May, 2006.
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*Douglas Fraser, "[http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/61992.html Nuclear plant decisions on hold for poll]", ''The Herald'', 16 May, 2006.
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*Andrew Grice, "[http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article485924.ece Brown endorses Blair's plans for more nuclear power stations]", ''The Independent'', 17 May, 2006.
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*"[http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=769532006 MP generates atomic power alert for Blair]", Glasgow Evening Herald, 24 May, 2006.
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==Notes==
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<references/>
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[[Category:Pro-nuclear organisations]][[Category:Cross Party Group]][[Category:Nuclear Spin]]

Latest revision as of 08:28, 2 September 2012

Nuclear spin.png This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.

Lobbying controversy

The Scottish equivalent of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy was set up by MSPs to promote 'consideration and discussion of aspects of the civil nuclear industry which come within the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament, including environmental, economic and planning issues relating to the commissioning, operation and decommissioning of nuclear plant, and liaison with interested groups, including management and employees in the industry and other stakeholders."[1] It is supposed to be neutral on nuclear power.

On the eve of the launch of the 2006 energy review, the Scottish Sunday Herald revealed that the CPG had "failed to declare the administrative support it receives from nuclear power firm British Energy that runs eight power stations in the UK. Services include drafting agendas and taking minutes of meetings, none of which is made available to the public." The newspaper also reported that the CPG was given presentations by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the nuclear waste agency, Nirex, and had gone on a trip to a nuclear power station with its UK counterpart, the Nuclear Energy APPG. [2]

According to the Sunday Herald, the Scottish Parliament has been asked to investigate whether the Cross Party Group "flouted anti-sleaze rules" as it has "has failed to register a number of trips and dinners financed by organisations that support the controversial energy source." [3]

"The group's register also leaves the 'financial benefits' section blank, despite Holyrood rules requiring CPGs to register 'financial or other benefits' exceeding £250 received from any source. "But last August, nuclear plant operator British Nuclear Fuels Limited funded 'accommodation' costs for MSPs to visit the reprocessing plant at Sellafield".

"Weeks later, the CPG and its Westminster equivalent, the all-party group on nuclear energy, attended a dinner paid for them by the nuclear industry. This was preceded months earlier by a trip to Torness, home to one of Scotland's nuclear plants, part of which was funded by British Energy".

According to the paper,

Critics say the group has broken the MSPs' code of conduct and compromised the forum's impartiality by accepting financial benefits from outfits that back new reactors. They want parliament to examine the role of commercial lobbyists in arranging meetings between their pro-nuclear clients and politicians.

Secret spinners

According to the newspaper, after it "...started making enquiries about the group last week, the name of a well-known lobbyist mentioned on the website was erased." The lobbyist in question is Thomas Docherty, as illustrated by this screenshot of the old version of the CPG's website, which was still in the Yahoo cache a few days after The Herald report was published.[4]

In addition, the website listing for Nirex's representative on the CPG was altered: Rachel Robertson (daughter of former NATO Secretary General George Robertson) from Fleishman-Hillard was on the Group, although she was listed as being from Nirex and not the PR company itself. [5] She was replaced by Ian Price. Unless there are two Ian Prices working for Nirex in Edinburgh, this is the same person who is a member of staff of Fleishman-Hillard, based in the PR firm's Edinburgh office, [6] and is seconded to Nirex. [7] If so, the fact that he is a public relations professional is not disclosed on the CPG's website. [8]

Members

Information as of 25 January, 2005 [9]

MSPs

Non-MSPs

External links

Articles

Notes

  1. ↑ Scottish Parliament website
  2. ↑ The Sunday Herald
  3. ↑ The Sunday Herald
  4. ↑ Civil Nuclear Industry Scottish CPG Website, [1].
  5. ↑ Standards Committee Meeting Agenda, Scottish Paliament website, 22 February, 2005.
  6. ↑ APPC website
  7. ↑ Nirex website
  8. ↑ Scottish Parliament website
  9. ↑ Scottish Parliament website
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