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Proliferation in ParliamentBack to Proliferation in Parliament, September - November 2007 Scottish ParliamentTrident, Oral Questions, 1 November 2007, Column 2971Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of the working group that is to be set up to examine issues surrounding the replacement for Trident being based in Scotland. The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Bruce Crawford): As announced at the summit on 22 October, the working group will, among other things, help to advise the Scottish Government on how we can most effectively support international peace and reconciliation work in the context of our devolved Col 2972 responsibilities. The group will also examine the economic impact of any decision to remove nuclear weapons from HM Naval Base Clyde, including the impact of reallocating the current and future resources that are spent on Trident to other areas of public expenditure. I will confirm its remit and membership as soon as possible. I expect the group to meet for the first time early in the new year. Sandra White: I thank the Government for hosting the summit at Òran Mór in Glasgow, which allowed many views—diverse and otherwise—to be expressed, including my own. The summit was a huge success. As a matter of interest, who was invited to the meeting to discuss the serious issue of weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde? Bruce Crawford: The trade unions, churches, wider civic Scotland, and the local authorities were invited to the event. We also invited all the political parties that are represented in the Scottish Parliament. In addition, the United Kingdom Government was invited. I am delighted to say that a senior official from the Ministry of Defence attended and contributed to the summit, in addition to the MOD submitting papers. All that added up to an historic and successful event. Prior to the election, a leader of one of the Scottish parties said that they "will not keep quiet on these issues. Labour should not be allowed to duck responsibility. Labour should stand up and be held accountable—not hide in silence." Members might think that that came from Alex Salmond, the First Minister, but it came from Nicol Stephen, the Liberal leader. It is clear that, on that particular day, the Liberals were the ones who were in hiding. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/ Trident in Scotland, Scottish Government News Release, 22 October 2007The Scottish Government today hosted a summit - A National Conversation: Scotland's Future Without Nuclear Weapons - to discuss the implications of the UK Government's decision to replace the Trident system on Scotland. The summit in Glasgow followed a vote in the Scottish Parliament on June 14 in which Holyrood registered its opposition to the proposal in the UK Government White Paper, The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent, to replace the existing Trident defence system. The UK Government estimates that the procurement costs alone will be in the region of £15-£20 million. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford represented the Scottish Government among representatives from churches, trade unions, local authorities, and government to discuss the impact of the UK Government's decision on devolved areas of responsibility and how best to present the Scottish view. Ms Sturgeon said: "There are few more important issues in the world than nuclear weapons. And the position of the Scottish Government is clear - we are opposed to the replacement of the Trident system and the deployment of weapons of mass destruction on Scottish soil. "That position is shared by a majority of MSPs, a majority of Scottish MPs, and a majority of the Scottish public. The fact that defence issues are currently reserved to Westminster does not make such opposition irrelevant - rather it forces all of us to consider how best to convey that strong feeling of opposition to the UK Government. "There are strong moral arguments against nuclear weapons. But we need to consider the practical implications of having a replacement to the Trident system on Scottish soil. That is the responsible thing to do - and that is what we are doing." Mr Crawford said: "There is a real breadth to the opposition to nuclear weapons in Scotland - it is not the preserve of any one political party, of any one section of society. Today's successful gathering has demonstrated that opposition to the principle of nuclear weapons must be married to an understanding of what a nuclear-free Scotland would look like. "The summit provided an extremely useful platform for discussion of those issues and I was impressed and encouraged by the enthusiasm evident today. But it was not an end in itself. We have therefore agreed that we will continue to work together to make Scotland's case to Westminster - and we have agreed to establish a small working group to take forward the issues arising from today's discussion. "It will, among other things, consider the options for future economic development around Faslane, help advise the Scottish Government on how best to explore the possibility of achieving NPT observer status at its next meeting in 2010 - and advise on how we can most effectively support international peace and reconciliation work, in the context of our devolved responsibilities. "I will confirm membership of that group - and its remit - very soon and I would expect it to meet for the first time early in the New Year. "Today is a historic day - and I believe we can maintain the momentum on this key issue and build the case for a Scotland without nuclear weapons." On June 14 this year, the Scottish Parliament debated the following motion in relation to the UK Government's policy on nuclear weapons: "That the Parliament congratulates the majority of Scottish MPs for voting on 14 March 2007 to reject the replacement of Trident, recognises that decisions on matters of defence are matters within the responsibility of the UK Government and Parliament and calls on the UK Government not to go ahead at this time with the proposal in the White Paper, The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent." The Scottish Parliament showed opposition to the UK Government's plan to replace its Trident nuclear weapons system (by 71 votes to 16, with 39 abstentions), and support for this Government's vision of a Scotland without nuclear weapons. A poll conducted in May this year found that 58 per cent of the Scottish public opposed Trident while 33 per cent supported it. Last week the First Minister wrote to representatives of State Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to make them aware of the Scottish Government's views on nuclear weapons. Defence is an issue currently reserved to the UK Government. The Ministry of Defence was represented at today's event and submitted a briefing paper for consideration. The National Conversation launched by the First Minister in August aims to stimulate discussion around Scotland's constitutional future and asks which future powers would be best held by the Scottish Parliament. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/10/22111017 Cabinet (Meetings), Oral Questions, 13 September 2007, Column 2722Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet. The First Minister (Alex Salmond): The next meeting of the Cabinet will discuss issues of importance to the people of Scotland. Nicol Stephen: During the recess, we were told that the First Minister had written to the states that are party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to ask for their help to get him observer status at their meetings. Did a shiver run up his spine as he signed letters to the Governments of some of the most despotic, repressive, undemocratic, villainous regimes in the world: Iran, Burma and Zimbabwe? The First Minister often talks about an arc of prosperity, but he has just written letters to countries in an arc of repression. The situation in Zimbabwe gets worse and worse. Just as the whole world is moving to cast out President Mugabe as a pariah, Scotland's First Minister invites him back in. Dear Robert, he writes, "I would hope we would be able to count on your government's support ... Please do not hesitate to contact me if you or your government wish to discuss these issues further." Best wishes, Alex. Is the First Minister so obsessed with getting a seat in the ante-room at the United Nations? Did he write to Iran, Zimbabwe and Burma? Is there any regime, dictatorship or one-party state to which he will not beg to help the cause of Scottish independence? The First Minister: Nicol Stephen has just destroyed any pretension of the Liberal party to moderation. The many people throughout Scottish society, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the churches who oppose Trident and its replacement will look at Nicol Stephen's question and wonder whether the Liberal party's commitment remains or whether it has joined the Trident bandwagon. [Interruption.] Finally, yes: I wrote to all countries in the non-proliferation agreement. I remind Nicol Stephen that it is held under the auspices of the United Nations. Is he seriously suggesting that that is not a legitimate organisation to write to? Col 2723 Nicol Stephen: The First Minister rightly complained in June that the United Kingdom Government had broken the concordat as it had failed to consult him on its discussions with Colonel Gaddafi involving the Lockerbie bomber. Now, without consultation, he has sent a letter to more than 100 Governments. His letter opens up discussions with some of the most vilified and dangerous regimes in the world. It is a clear breach of the agreement. Constantly picking fights with London is bad enough, but this goes way beyond that. Not just British interests are being put at risk: the European Union is conducting delicate negotiations with many of those countries. The whole world is moving to cast out President Mugabe and to condemn General Than Shwe in Burma, yet Scotland's First Minister asks for their support. I again ask the First Minister whether there is any regime, however wicked, that he will not call on to help the cause of Scottish independence? The First Minister: The letter was looking for support from Governments and organisations, under the auspices of the United Nations, to help what I think is a majority opinion in Scotland to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. I will make two points to Nicol Stephen. First, at the highly successful anti-Trident conference, a wide range of opinion, delegates and representative organisations in Scottish society applauded our initiative in looking to end the evil of nuclear weapons on Scottish soil and in Scottish waters. Secondly, that should not have come as a major surprise to anyone, given that it was one of the key commitments in the Scottish National Party manifesto—a manifesto that I intend to honour. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/ Defence, Written Answers, 7 November 2007S3W-5393 - Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) (Date Lodged 10 October 2007), To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all costs, including staff time, arising from the organisation of the A National Conversation - Scotland's Future without Nuclear Weapons conference. Answered by Bruce Crawford (7 November 2007): The total cost arising from the organisation of the A National Conversation - Scotland's Future without Nuclear Weapons conference was £4,843.37. This covers venue hire, catering, branding and technical support. Calculating the costs associated with officials making arrangements for the conference is not possible, as relevant staff would have undertaken such work alongside a range of other duties and the time spent on any given day on such work would have varied considerably.
S3W-5392 - Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) (Date Lodged 10 October 2007), To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with the (a) Scotland Office and (b) Ministry of Defence in advance of the A National Conversation - Scotland's Future without Nuclear Weapons conference. Answered by Bruce Crawford (7 November 2007): No discussions were held with the Scotland Office. There were discussions at official level with the Ministry of Defence about representation and the submission of papers for the meeting. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-07/wa1107.htm
Transport, Written Answers, 2 October 2007S3W-4324 - George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) (Date Lodged 14 September 2007), To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials are carrying out work in relation to the Trident missile system and what the estimated cost is of any such work, broken down by department. Answered by Bruce Crawford (2 October 2007): The Scottish Government has no dedicated functions in relation to the Trident missile system and therefore no related costs. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-07/wa1002.htm Defence, Written Answers, 13 September 2007S3W-4058 - Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab) (Date Lodged 5 September 2007), To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2874 by Bruce Crawford on 27 August 2007, what organisations have been contacted about participating in the proposed summit in opposition to the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system. Answered by Bruce Crawford (13 September 2007): During the debate on 14 June 2007 the Scottish Parliament showed clear opposition to the UK Government's plans to replace Trident and support for the Scottish Government's vision of a Scotland without nuclear weapons. As part of the National Conversation with the Scottish public on the options for constitutional change and the way we govern ourselves, we will be holding a summit in October with a range of people and organisations to discuss what Scotland might look like without nuclear weapons and consider their impact on Scotland and the Scottish Government's devolved responsibilities. A number of organisations have been approached informally to ascertain if they would be prepared to attend the summit if invited to do so. Invitations will be issued shortly. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-07/wa0913.htm Nuclear Weapons, Written Answers, 2 August 2007S3W-2217 - Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP), 2 August 2007: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to Her Majesty's Government regarding the transport and storage of nuclear weapons. Bruce Crawford: The majority of Scots support the Scottish Government's view that nuclear weapons have no place in a modern Scotland. We plan to bring together key stakeholders from across Scottish civic life in an alliance of people who are opposed to the deployment of nuclear weapons in Scotland. We will reflect on how the UK Government's plans to replace Trident impact on devolved areas and will consider what we can do, within our devolved responsibilities, to persuade the UK Government to change its position on these matters. Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the setting up of a working group to monitor and report to the Parliament on the devolved impact of nuclear weapons based in Scotland. Bruce Crawford: This Government wishes to be free to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland. The majority of Scots support that view. We plan to bring together key stakeholders from across Scottish civic life in an alliance of people who are opposed to the deployment of nuclear weapons in Scotland. We will reflect on how the UK Government's plans to replace Trident impact on devolved areas and will consider what we can do, within our devolved responsibilities, to persuade the UK Government to change its position on these matters. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-07/wa0802.htm Back to Proliferation in Parliament, September - November 2007 © 2007 The Acronym Institute. |