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Replied to survey in March 2011:

"I know you are well aware that the issue of nuclear weapons is reserved to Westminster and is not a matter within the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament. Whilst I understand that you want to highlight the issue during the Scottish Parliament elections, I do think you should direct this to MPs who have jurisdiction. On the whole, I am not particularly favourable to the Scottish Parliament calling on Westminster to do things when there are MPs elected to Westminster from Scottish constituencies with specific accountability on the issue."

"Against the construction of new nuclear power stations".

Took part in a conference on Trident in May 2007 saying - "The Liberal Democrats are in favour of multi-lateral disarmament. We should use Britain’s influence in the world to move forward. Liberal Democrats are against the replacement of Trident and feel that it is the wrong time to make these decisions." - more details below.

Made statement to Scotland's for Peace in December 2006 saying:

"Scotland for Peace are acting in the public interest in pressing this issue. I am opposed to, and see no point in, the replacement of Trident at this point. If the UK Government cut our stockpile in half, it could help to kickstart nuclear disarmament negotiations. I think this is the right approach, because the retention or abandonment of Trident by the United Kingdom will, by itself, not move things forward.” "In the aftermath of the failure of both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review conference and the UN world summit to make any meaningful progress on disarmament, my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Westminster are continuing to press the UK Government to initiate arms reduction talks."  

“Liberal Democrats have a long-standing commitment to work for the elimination of nuclear weapons on a multilateral basis. Nevertheless, defence is reserved to Westminster and, as an MSP, I have no functional responsibility for defence, and will not be taking the decision.”

Contribution to Scottish CND conference on Trident, Scotland and the New Political Settlement, 26 May 2007

Robert welcomed the conference and its focus on practical ways forward. We should be cautious about how much has changed. Defence is reserved. The issue is how to influence decision makers at Westminster. The Liberal Democrats are in favour of multi-lateral disarmament. We should use Britain’s influence in the world to move forward. Liberal Democrats are against the replacement of Trident and feel that it is the wrong time to make these decisions.

Proposals for a way forward –

The elimination of nuclear weapons across the world is desirable. What influence will a decision by Britain have on France, other nuclear weapon states, and rogue states ?

We should build a wider coalition, building a wider agenda, looking at the 2010 NPT meeting. There is possible scope for motions in the Scottish Parliament on this, but these won’t change the British Government.

The jobs issue is taken forward by local MSPs. We need to attempt to get over that argument. The jobs argument is not crucial, but should be taken into account.

There is a European perspective and there are European defence institutions.

Scotland can have a real effect in the intellectual sphere. People in universities can put forward ideas.

The 2010 NPT meeting is on the top of this agenda. There is a need for verification and considering the international context.

We need to move forward in practical terms in practical ways.
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We need to think about the next Westminster election and the Conservative, Lib Dem and Labour party positions. Using transport responsibilities to stop nuclear weapon is not the way forward. But we need to think of how to influence the UK government and the international scene.