Motion S1M215 Margo Macdonald
Legal Ruling on Nuclear Weapons
- That the Parliament notes the ruling by Sheriff Margaret Gimblettt on the illegality of the nuclear weapons system located at Faslane; further notes that the Lord Advocate will have to decide whether to refer the judgement to the High Court; calls upon Her Majesty's Government, irrespective of the final legal outcome, to recognise and accept that this issue falls within Scot's jurisdiction, and urges Her Majesty's Government to desist from seeking to exercise any powers in the matter.
25 October 1999
Motion S1M-00217 Dorothy Grace Elder
Nuclear Weapons
That the Parliament conscious of the assurances from the Ministry of Defence about the safety of the military nuclear facilities at Faslane and Loch Goil, notes that the three women accused of illegally entering the military base there gained easy entry; notes the universal acceptance of the inherent danger to human life posed by nuclear material; calls upon the Scottish Executive to initiate an immediate investigation into the threat to the health and safety of the Scottish population and the environment represented by the nuclear base, and requests Her Majesty's Government to suspend all military activities there.
25 October 1999
Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond said:
"Following last week's historic ruling in a Scottish Court that Trident is effectively illegal, the issue of these nuclear weapons being dumped in Scotland is now centre-stage in Scottish politics."
A number of Labour MSPs are also on record as supporting Trident. Scottish CND conducted a pollof views during the elections for the Scottish Parliament.
Labour MSP John McAllion said to the Daily Record:
"I am still a member of CND, still opposed to Trident. The policy of the British Labour Party is to retain Trident and I obviously don't agree with that."
The Sheriffs ruling in Greenock is available in detail and a summary. Additional background material is available here and from Trident Ploughshares 2000