The SNP should ditch its “ideological opposition” to nuclear power in an attempt to lower people’s energy bills, a UK minister has said.
The Scottish government has vowed to use planning laws to block atomic plants north of the border after it was announced that one a year will be built in England and Wales in efforts to end dependency on international markets.
Greg Hands, the UK energy minister, called nuclear power and renewables the “best way to address gas prices”. He told Holyrood’s net zero committee: “It would be really helpful if the Scottish government were to drop its ideological opposition to nuclear because nuclear has got a fantastic track record in Scotland. It’s a pity to see Scotland not participate, thanks to the Scottish government, in our nuclear renaissance.”
The UK energy strategy maps out plans for eight new nuclear reactors at sites across England and Wales. Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK business secretary, said there are “no plans to impose nuclear reactors in Scotland” with the opposition of the Holyrood government. Hands argued that a windfall tax on energy companies, which has been suggested by Labour as a way of funding policies to help people with inflation, would kill off investment and cost jobs.
He said UK ministers are spending £22 billion this year to help households with the cost of living. Some of this help — such as the energy bills support scheme, which will provide a £200 reduction in electricity costs — will not be felt until October, he said.
“Oil and gas companies already pay corporation tax at twice the rate of other companies; they’ve paid around £375 billion in taxation to the exchequer since North Sea oil and gas came on stream,” he said.
“So we take the view that the windfall tax would be likely to kill off investment and cost jobs, particularly in Scotland.”
Monica Lennon, a Scottish Labour MSP, asked about the proposed Jackdaw oil field in the North Sea, about which the minister said an independent environmental assessment is being carried out. She added that “the cost-of-living crisis is killing off people”.
Hands argued greater investment in gas will help with security of supply.
