Cross Party Group on the Civil Nuclear Industry
The Civil Nuclear Industry Scottish CPG (cross party group) describes its purpose as follows:
- '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]
The equivalent body in the UK parliament is the Nuclear Energy APPG.
Contents
Lobbying controversy
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." 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. [6]
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.
In addition, the website listing for Nirex's representative on the CPG was altered: Rachel Robertson (daughter of former NATO Secretary General George Robertson) 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 [2], and is seconded to Nirex [3]. If so, the fact that he is a public relations professional is not disclosed on the CPG's website [4]
Members
Information current as of January 25, 2005 [5]
MSPs
- Shiona Baird
- Richard Baker
- Chris Ballance
- Murdo Fraser
- Phil Gallie
- Karen Gillon
- John Home Robertson
- Alex Johnstone
- Michael McMahon
- Duncan McNeil
- Christine May
- Alasdair Morrison
- Dr Elaine Murray
- Mary Scanlon
- John Scott
- Stewart Stevenson
- Jamie Stone
- John Swinburne
Non-MSPs
- Neil Cardwell - researcher for Richard Baker MSP
- Tony King - MSP researcher
- Ian Price - The Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive (Nirex)
- Linda Smith - British Energy
- Simon Tiernan - researcher for John Home Robertson MSP
External links
- Homepage of the Civil Nuclear Industry CPG
- Old site list publication stakeholder workshop (PDF), Nirex, May 26, 2005. Mentions Ian Price.
- APCO UK register, June-Nov 2005 (PDF). Mentions Ian Price.
- MP ENERGY REPORT "DOES NOT BACK NEW NUCLEAR PLANTS" Friends of the Earth Scotland
Articles
- Paul Hutcheon, "Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood", Sunday Herald, January 22, 2006.
- Rob Edwards, "Leading scientists attack Blair over nuclear power", Sunday Herald, April 9, 2006.
- Magnus Linklater, "Linklater's Scotland", The Scotsman, May 14, 2006.
- Douglas Fraser, "Nuclear plant decisions on hold for poll", The Herald, May 16, 2006.
- Andrew Grice, "Brown endorses Blair's plans for more nuclear power stations", The Independent May 17, 2006.
- "MP generates atomic power alert for Blair", Glasgow Evening Herald, May 24, 2006.
