Cross Party Group on the Civil Nuclear Industry

Key Personnel

John Home Robertson

The Scottish equivilent of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy has been set up by MSPs to promote “consideration and discussion� 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.

Acccording to a report in the Sunday Herald [[1]], 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."

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.�

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.

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.

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.

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.�

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.�