No Plans To Remove The Scottish Government's Nuclear Veto

The Scotland Government is to hold on to planning powers to veto the building of new nuclear power stations despite a UK Government submission to the Calman Commission on devolution warning this could undermine UK energy policy.

The Scottish Government has planning powers under devolution which may be used to prevent large-scale building projects.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy spoke of the importance of Scotland retaining control over planning, he told he BBC's Newsnight Scotland programme: "The Scottish Parliament has power over planning policy and that's important that they have that power.


"But the UK Government has power over energy policy - that's the established devolution settlement.

"I think what we're saying today in our evidence is that we have to look to see if we can have better working relations so that both parliaments and both governments can work in the interests of Scotland."

Calman Comission individual reports does not make formal recommendations but the most commonly expressed view by Whitehall departments was that things are working well and there are no calls for major change.

However the report says the UK Government remains open to proposals and to adjustments to the settlement further to strengthen devolution.

Speaking to the BBC a spokesman for the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The Labour Government are offering nothing, will try to take powers back if they can, and are rendering the whole Calman exercise farcical."

(GK/JM)