By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE UK GOVERNMENT yesterday gave the green light for a new generation of nuclear power stations—but not north of the Border. Business Secretary John Hutton said any plants would be built at or near existing reactors by private firms and said he hoped the first one would be completed before 2020.

However, the provisions of the UK Energy Bill do not apply to Scotland.

Yesterday Scottish ministers welcomed the decision not to build new reactors in Scotland and reaffirmed their total opposition to nuclear power.

Finance secretary John Swinney said, “The UK Energy Bill provisions on nuclear power do not extend to Scotland— this is a great success for the Scottish Government. John Hutton knows well the strength of feeling in Scotland against developing unwanted and unnecessary new nuclear power stations.”

Mr Swinney said Scotland did not need nuclear power. “New statistics show that Scotland in 2006 supplied 92.5% of its energy needs from fossil fuels, renewables and pumped hydro storage,” he said.

“The risks and uncertainties of new nuclear power, in terms of waste disposal, decommissioning, security and health concerns or cost are obviously far too great. Our agenda is clear: Scotland does not want or need new nuclear power.

“We have massive potential for alternative clean, green energy.

“The installed renewables generating capacity already exceeds that of nuclear.

“In 2006, overall electricity generation in Scotland increased by nearly a tenth, while electricity generated from nuclear power in Scotland fell by a quarter.”

Mr Swinney warned that Scots will in the future have to pay for decommissioning nuclear power stations south of the Border.

“Nuclear will not only come at a cost to the development of new technologies, it will hit consumers in the pocket,” he said. “Scots now face the prospect of increased electricity prices to fund the decommissioning of English nuclear power stations.

“Charges on suppliers to pay for future decommissioning will be passed on to consumers—Scotland will pay for this folly, despite our clear position on resisting new nuclear power.”

Stating the case for nuclear power as part of the UK energy mix, Mr Hutton said, “The Government believes it is in the public interest that new nuclear power stations should have a role to play in this country’s future energy mix alongside other low-carbon sources;

“That it would be in the public interest to allow energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations;

“And that the government should take active steps to open the way to the construction of new nuclear power stations.”

Scottish Labour energy spokesman Lewis Macdonald said the SNP had put “a huge shadow” over Scotland’s future energy needs.

“Their refusal to consider new nuclear energy as part of Scotland’s energy mix is short-sighted and leaves Scotland without a coherent energy strategy,” he said.

“Renewables will play a key role in Scotland’s energy future but they alone will not keep Scotland working.

“This decision is not popular with business as they know the real threat of energy shortfalls.”

Tory shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell said, “The dogmatic anti-nuclear approach in the Scottish Parliament by the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Greens means many private investors have written off Scotland as a location for nuclear power stations. It’s a wasted opportunity for Scotland—there’s every chance it will eventually lead us to import electricity.”