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MoD 'to lose' environment powers says Scottish government MoD 'to lose' environment powers says Scottish government
(about 1 hour later)
The Ministry of Defence will lose powers for environmental regulation on radioactivity in Scotland, under Scottish government plans.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. Scottish ministers said the arrangement had been "abused", after a problem at a Highland nuclear test facility dating back to 2012 emerged last week.
On Thursday the UK government said a radioactive discharge was found at Dounreay's Vulcan reactor in 2012. The UK government said there were no safety concerns following the incident at Dounreay's Vulcan reactor.
The Scottish government said the public had been misled.
Scottish ministers said all Scotland's environmental regulation should in future be run from Scotland.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. The row came after 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. As a result HMS Vanguard, the UK's oldest nuclear-armed submarine, is to have its reactor refuelled at a cost of £120m.
'Enforce action' 'Culture of secrecy'
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. Mr Hammond's department informed the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) later in 2012.
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 agency said it was told on a confidential basis and as there was no safety risk decided not to share details with the Scottish government.
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. Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead told the Scottish Parliament: "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."
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. He said he was drawing up plans to end a "Crown exemption" which currently meant that regulating the environment in regard to radioactivity within the areas of MoD establishments in Scotland was not subject to Sepa regulation.
"Sepa can regulate and enforce action on radioactivity across the whole of the nation except for the areas covered by MoD establishments," Mr Lochhead told MSPs.
"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.""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.""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." Community engagement
Meanwhile, in a letter to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, Mr Hammond said the incident in question was classified as a "Level 0" incident, with "no safety significance."
He added that the MoD had no authority to stop Sepa informing Scottish ministers, adding: "Sepa took the decision, correctly in my view given the absence of any safety concern, that there was no issue that merited disclosure to Scottish ministers.
"If there had been any safety issue for employees at Dounreay, the surrounding community or the environment, we would, of course, have informed the Scottish government," the letter said.
Mr Hammond also said the MoD was speaking to the local community to answer any questions they might have.