Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

CAUTIOUS WELCOME FOR SCOTGOV PROMISE TO REVIEW SCOTTISH READINESS TO RESPOND TO NUCLEAR WEAPON CONVOYS EMERGENCIES

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Published on Tuesday, 29 May 2018 08:54

NUCLEAR WEAPON CONVOYS: CAUTIOUS WELCOME FOR SCOTGOV PROMISE TO REVIEW SCOTTISH READINESS TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES

Scottish CND has today given a  cautious welcome to the promise given by the Scottish government  to the resilience work of Police Scotland and the SFRS in the light of concerns about the readiness of the civil authorities in Scotland to respond effectively to any serious incident involving the road convoys which transport nuclear warheads to and from Burghfield and Coulport.

The concerns about public safety were highlighted in the 2016 Nukewatch Report “Unready Scotland”(http://www.nukewatch.org.uk/?p=683), based on a survey of affected local councils by Mark Ruskell MSP which revealed a serious failure on their part to comply with their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004

The promise came first from Minister for Community Affairs Annabelle Ewing at the close of a debate on the issue in the Scottish Parliament earlier this month and has been confirmed by Deputy First Minister John Swinney in his reply to SCND's recent letter, which  had asked that the government accede to the Nukewatch request for a review.

SCND Chair Arthur West said:

“ We are pleased that the Scottish Government has decided to conduct a review  - this is a significant step forward. Our caution is prompted by two considerations.

Trident - The Black Hole

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Published on Tuesday, 22 May 2018 08:54

We've long argued that Trident renewal programme is in a state of chaos with the MOD significantly downplaying the true cost and time needed to finalise it. It comes as no surprise the news that they are finding themselves in trouble again. Trident is a Black Hole swallowing much needed resources!

Britain’s nuclear submarine programme faces a potential £6bn funding gap over the next 10 years, with serious questions over whether the project can be delivered on time.

A hard-hitting assessment by spending watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO) of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNS) - which covers all the Navy’s submarines, their weapons, powerplants, as well as support and design work - highlights a series of risks to the programme.

While this has just become news, Scottish CND published a report in March 2016 "The Trident Shambles" which highlighted the exact problems.Trident renewal programe is badly managed with costs jumping up, missed deadlines and staff shortages.

Here are some links to articles covering this: The National, The Telegraph, Forces.net

Statement from Scottish CND on UDT Conference

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Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2018 14:12

  The Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) event will take place at the Scottish Event Centre in Glasgow between 26^th and 28^th June 2018. Glasgow Life are a charity that organises cultural events on behalf of Glasgow City Council and are actively campaigning for this arms trade event to be held in the city. Scottish CND is disappointed in Glasgow City Council for supporting the conference, Arthur West (chair) continues:

 "It is even more troubling that some of the companies who are supporting this event may have links with the Trident nuclear weapons replacement programme. This replacement project is opposed by a clear majority of Scotland's politicians and the Scottish public.”

It is believed that this event is run by Clarion Events who arrange a huge Arms Fair in London every two years and this in itself should raise alarm bells about the nature of this event. “A public body should not be endorsing events that promote nuclear weapons and war and Glasgow Life have some questions to answer as to why they think it is reasonable to help house this type of unsavoury event in Scotland’s largest city.

Scottish CND Dismayed and Disgusted as Trump Withdraws from Iran Nuclear Deal

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Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2018 11:21

 Chair Arthur West has expressed Scottish CND's disgust at the recent announcement by US president Donald Trump that he intends to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal.

"This deal has achieved its main aim which is stopping Iran from having nuclear weapons. It is very troubling that the US president has decided to move away from a deal which makes a positive contribution towards a more peaceful world."

Arthur concluded by noting that International Atomic Energy Agency which has inspection powers to keep a heck on how Iran is complying with the deal has expressed concern about the US president moving away from the deal.

"There is clearly substantial opposition to this latest ill advised and wrong headed move by the Trump administration. The International Atomic Energy Agency, Tom Tugendhat MP - the chair of all party foreign affairs committee at Westminster and Dr Patricia Lewis of the respected Chatham House research organisation has all indicated reservations about this move by the Trump administration.

Report from Members Debate in Holyrood – 2 May 2018, Civil Contingency in Nuclear Weapon Transport

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Published on Thursday, 03 May 2018 14:02

For over an hour the Scottish Parliament discussed nuclear weapons convoys in a debate raised by

Mark Ruskell MSP from the Scottish Greens. It was a members debate which comes after decision

time so most members leave then but 22 stayed to listen and contribute.

Mark Ruskell introduced the motion and thanked David Mackenzie and Jane Tallents for the Unready

Scotland report and paid tribute to the work of the Nukewatch network. He explained why the

hazards of nuclear weapons transport are so unique and the results of a survey of Scottish Local

Authorities by him which showed that none of them had conducted risk assessments or informed

the public. He said that the current devolution settlement laid responsibility for community safety

with the Scottish Government under the Civil Contingencies Act 2014 and called for them to hold a

review of civil authorities plans for a convoy accident.

Bill Kidd (SNP) said no one should be ignorant of what these convoys carry and called for the

minister to consider setting up a group to conduct a review.