David Mundell
http://www.nuklear21.com/content.php?pageID=8&ArticleID=15
Pro-nuclear Conservative MP for for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Constituency, whose constituency includes the Chapelcross nuclear plant.
The TGWU’s JOHN ROGERSON, Chapelcross shop stewards’ convener explains the background and reports on the important debate on Chapelcross nuclear power station in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh on 4 November.
First things first, our thanks are due to two Members of the Scottish Parliament: the Conservative list MSP for South of Scotland, David Mundell and the Labour constituency MSP for Dumfries, Dr Elaine Murray.
Mr Mundell secured a “members’ business debate� in the Scottish Parliament on November 4 which focused on the economic impact the cessastion of electricity production at Chapelcross power station would have on its surrounding communities.
During that debate, Mr Mundell said: “I welcome the campaign by the nuklear 21 workers’ group because I believe that it can make the idea of a new nuclear power station in Chapelcross a reality.� More from Mr Mundell anon.
Secondly, our thanks to our local constituency MSP for Dumfries, Labour’s Dr Elaine Murray whose efforts resulted in a group from Chapelcross joint shop stewards committee meeting with the Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Alan Wilson MSP an hour before the debate. More also of Dr Murray anon.
The background to this important development in Scotland’s new Parliament was BNFL’s two announcements, the first in June 2002 that production would cease in 2005, and then in June 2004 that production would cease immediately; a year earlier than planned Chapelcross is now being decommissioned and de-fuelled.
Chapelcross in Annan, Dumfriesshire, is one of the first ever (Magnox) generation of nuclear power stations in the UK. It began production in the 1950s and employs 450 highly skilled employees. It is estimated that Chapelcross puts £20 million a year into the local economy. When the first announcement was made the local economic development company for the area, Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, quickly established the Corridor Regeneration Strategy (CoReS) steering group involving local representatives from around the Gretna-Lockerbie-Annan corridor.
PricewaterhouseCoopers were commissioned to carry out a study into the impact of Chapelcross’s closure and any potential opportunities. They concluded that there would be a significant impact on employment and income for the corridor area. The CoReS steering group’s prospectus on what might replace Chapelcross was published in April 2004 outlining 13 priority opportunities that would help the area’s diversification and regeneration.
While SE Dumfries and Galloway were pursuing this diversification and regeneration strategy, Chapelcross shop stewards from the outset have proposed that a new nuclear plant - Chapelcross II - be built on the same site as the existing one.
We are pleased to report that our proposal has won great support from a broad spectrum of individuals and organisations throughout the local area, including local politicians especially Mr Mundell and Dr Murray.
It was against this background that Mr Mundell succeeded in winning his “members’ business debate� on 4 November.An hour before the debate was to begin, a local group, including myself and Dr Murray, met with the Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Allan Wilson. Mr Wilson received us warmly and was very supportive and complimentary about the work of the CoReS steering group. Our main demand of the Minister was for him to support the case for a feasibility study - or generic design review - into the economic and environmental impact of building a new nuclear power station, Chapelcross II, on the same site. We gave him a brief outline of three different new nuclear power station designs which we believed are worth reviewing in the context of the Chapelcross site: the BNFL-Westinghouse AP1000; the Franco-German European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR); and the South African Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR). We further asked the Minister to support our view that this feasibility study should be integrated into the continuing work of the CoReS steering group. The Minister said he’d study our proposal and get back to us as soon as he could. At the time of writing we have received no reply. The Scottish Parliament debate started with Mr Mundell opening up and it ended with the Minister, Alan Wilson’s reply. The full debate can be read on the Scottish Parliament’s website. (see below).
Mr Mundell said: “Chapelcross has dominated not only the landscape, but the economy, of lower Annandale for more than 50 years. When power production ceased, it was the longest-serving nuclear power station in the world. “The facts are simple. The plant is one of the area's largest employers. There are more than 400 British Nuclear Fuels Ltd employees and 100 contracted support workers. And there are all the ancillary businesses that are associated with the plant. Together, they put an estimated £20 million into the area's economy. “Given that 80 per cent of the work force lives within nine miles of the plant and given the size of the local population, the closure is, in proportional terms, the equivalent of the closure of large industrial plants, such as Ravenscraig, in more urban areas. That is why action needs to be taken.� Referring to the CoReS prospectus, Mr Mundell said: “The report shows that, without the necessary action, there will be a cumulative reduction in employment, income and supporting social infrastructure that will simply lead to young families and businesses leaving the area. “While the area would not experience the traditional rise in the unemployment rate, it would face depopulation and the end of vibrant and balanced communities with economically active individuals.�
On the question of Chapelcross II Mr Mundell was unequivocal: “I have never hidden my view that one of the key elements of ensuring the economic prosperity of Annandale is the building of a Chapelcross 2 power station on the Chapelcross site, which is the largest licensed site in Scotland. In that regard, I welcome the campaign by nUKlear21, a workers group. The cover of the current issue of its magazine features the words: "Who wants a new nuclear power station on their doorstep? We do! Say Chapelcross workers and communities". “I welcome that campaign, because I believe that it can make the idea of a new power station in Chapelcross a reality. The fundamental requirement is a commitment to the nuclear industry from the United Kingdom Government, which needs to face down the spurious environmental campaign against the industry. “In a letter that I received this week, representatives of the trade unions at Chapelcross point out that many people who have previously campaigned against nuclear power now realise that it has a key and fundamental part to play in ensuring the security of electricity supply into the future and that, if new nuclear power facilities are to be built, the Chapelcross site is ideal. “Given its powers in respect of planning matters, the Scottish Executive has an important role to play in the future development of the nuclear power industry in Scotland. “It would therefore be helpful if, in his summing up, the minister were able to give a clear statement on the Executive's position on further nuclear development in Scotland—which has now been openly suggested by the Secretary of State for Scotland—although the minister might have competing constituency interests on the siting of any plant. “Irrespective of whether a new plant is developed on the Chapelcross site, it is clear that the Executive needs to take action to support those who have produced the regeneration strategy. I hope that the minister feels able to give a clear and unequivocal commitment to supporting the development of that strategy.�
Dr Elaine Murray began with the CoReS report and said: “Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway is making a bid to Scottish Enterprise for funding to implement some of the suggestions. I urge the minister to support Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway and to encourage Scottish Enterprise to provide the funding that will help some of those ideas.�
She welcomed the Chapelcross group in the visitors’ gallery and said: “My position on the second-generation nuclear power station is not the position of my party or of many of my colleagues. I believe that we need to have a balanced and secure energy policy for the UK, involving energy that is generated in the UK. That energy could be generated from renewable sources, from clean coal and from the new nuclear technologies.
“Scientific and public opinion is beginning to flow in that direction, and politicians must listen carefully instead of relying on outdated prejudices that refer to old technology that is long past its sell-by date. “We are talking about new nuclear generation and new technology. Yes, we must solve the issues of waste, but let us get on and conduct research into that and move things forward. The UK needs nuclear power to keep the lights on in future years. “I believe that there is a future for power generation at Chapelcross. There are interesting proposals for a 250MW biomass power generation station there, and I support those as well. “It does not have to be either/or; we can have renewable power generation and new nuclear power generation. We do not have to make a choice between those two. That is one way forward for Chapelcross as a site of power generation, which it always has been. We should look at new technologies to take that forward.� Replying to the debate, Allan Wilson said: “There is now the potential to diversify the local economy using some of the area's natural resources. We are well aware of the proposals that Elaine Murray and others mentioned from E.ON UK for a 40MW wood-fuelled biomass power plant at Lockerbie, and from Scottish BioPower for a biomass plant and related energy park at Chapelcross. “Like Elaine Murray and others, I do not view the two proposals as incompatible. Dumfries and Galloway is ideally placed for the development of biomass power plants, as it is an area of high wood-fuel resource. Arguably, there could not be a better location. My officials will continue to work with the companies involved as they develop the proposals. “As Elaine Murray said, energy and the Chapelcross site will continue to be prominent features of the local economy. I had much pleasure in meeting the stewards from Chapelcross earlier today and listening to their plans and proposals. I will be pleased to respond to them in the fullness of time. “The decommissioning of the site will give rise to work over the next decade, and Dumfries and Galloway is well placed to benefit from what is a growing industry. “As I said, I am interested in the proposed delivery model and I would encourage the partners to continue their efforts right through to delivery. I look forward—hopefully in this job—to seeing the results materialise on the ground in the months and, dare I say it, years ahead. “It has been a genuine pleasure to have participated in the debate and to have seen colleagues working together so positively for the common good in Lockerbie, Annan and Gretna.�
In total seven speakers took part and the only other points of any significance were those made by the opponents of nuclear power, the Scottish National Party’s Alasdair Morgan MSP and the Green Party’s Chris Ballance.
The SNP have been extremely hostile toward nuclear power, especially the idea of new nuclear plants. Mr Morgan’s criticism, in tone and length, of Mr Mundell’s proposal for Chapelcross II was mild indeed. A straw in the wind perhaps?
He said: “I was disappointed by David Mundell's mention of nuclear power. The future for Chapelcross is not a new nuclear power station that would probably employ about 70 people. That is not the way to replace jobs for 400 people. The problem with having a nuclear power station there is that it would rule out all other potential uses for the site, which has significant potential.�
Finally, Green MSP, Chris Ballance gave out with the usual anti-nuclear vitriol that we have come to expect from him. He said “I have made no secret of the fact that I do not regret the closure of Chapelcross, whose aerial emissions made it one of the dirtiest reactors in the world.� He was taken to task by Conservative MSP Phil Gallie who said: “I find Chris Ballance's remarks about Chapelcross quite shameful. The fact is that Chapelcross was almost the first nuclear generation plant in the world. It was the forerunner of many great successors right across the world, and to deride the achievements of those at Chapelcross is to my mind absolutely wrong and disgraceful.�
And so say all of us. The campaign for Chapelcross II goes on.
