Clause 9 - Designations relating to scotland
Energy Bill [Lords]
4:30 pm
Mr Richard Page (South West Hertfordshire, Conservative)
When I read the amendment, I experienced the puzzlement of trying to get into the mind of the Liberal Democrats, and I have to say that I failed. I came to the conclusion that if it was anything other than a wrecking amendment—in which case all became clear—I was in difficulty. However, the hon. Member for Lewes said that it was a probing amendment, so I feel a warm glow come over me. I am with him in spirit on that. I sincerely hope that he does not try to press the amendment to a vote, because I think that the whole thing would come off the road at that point.
The amendment is peculiar in the way in which it is designed to tease out the arguments that the hon. Gentleman asked the Under-Secretary to explain. I understand the requirement to define the relationship between the NDA and Nirex, and the amendment is more interesting because he has chosen to try to elucidate that information. However, the people who read these debates will wonder about the Liberal Democrats' moves to try to exclude Scotland from any form of nuclear activity. That would gain an enormous number of votes in some areas, but lose them in others. I see no reason why Scotland should be in the discriminatory position of being a nuclear-free zone.
Earlier, my hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury mentioned his away day to Finland. It is building a nuclear power station on a great chunk of granite. Scotland is just a lump of granite really, as the hon. Member for Angus—my hon. Friend—would admit. There are a few bits of water as well, but it is a great chunk of granite.