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MoD 'to lose' environment powers says Scottish government | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Ministry of Defence will lose powers for environmental regulation on radioactivity in Scotland, under Scottish government plans. | |
The move came following a political row over a problem at a nuclear test reactor in the Highlands. | |
On Thursday the UK government said a radioactive discharge was found at Dounreay's Vulcan reactor in 2012. | |
Scottish ministers said all Scotland's environmental regulation should in future be run from Scotland. | |
UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told the House of Commons last week that "low levels of radioactivity were detected" in the cooling waters of a reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment in 2012. | |
He said it was such a "low level" event that an announcement was not required and his department informed the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) later in 2012. | |
'Enforce action' | |
Sepa said it was told on a confidential basis and as there was no safety risk decided not to share details with the Scottish government. | |
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Lochhead said a "Crown exemption", which meant that, at present, regulation of the environment in regard to radioactivity, within the areas of MoD establishments in Scotland was not subject to regulation by the Sepa, would be removed. | |
The minister said that would see an end to the current situation where Sepa could only provide regulation under a "flawed gentlemen's agreement" with the MoD. | |
Mr Lochhead told the Scottish Parliament: "Sepa can regulate and enforce action on radioactivity across the whole of the nation except for the areas covered by MoD establishments. | |
"That is a flawed and historic anomaly which has been of concern for some time, however the latest incident and the culture of secrecy surrounding it are the final straw and the lack of transparency in this case is an abuse of the crown exemption." | |
"By removing the crown exemption, Sepa will be able to regulate all of Scotland and in this situation they would have had the power to demand that action was taken rather than the MoD being able to withhold vital information." | |
Mr Lochhead added: "The MoD has again demonstrated a deep-seated culture of secrecy and have also misled local community representatives - telling them everything was fine and routine when it clearly was not." |