Summer Adjournment Debate
Thursday 25 July 2007

Nuclear Energy

Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to make a short contribution on several issues which I feel are important in local, national and international terms.

I begin with the topic of nuclear energy.  I am delighted that the tide has now turned in favour of a balanced energy policy and after the Government’s consultation will, I hope, include a component of nuclear energy.  The argument has turned away from nuclear versus renewables, coal or gas but to what the needs are for the British people and what is good for the environment.

In spite of the misinformation emanating from many so called environmental groups and may I say even some of my colleagues on these benches the latest YouGov poll indicates that 63% would support nuclear power if developed along side other clean sources of energy such as solar and wind power.
Just over 51% consider nuclear energy vital in an attempt to reduce climate change and only 9% believe Britain can rely on gas, oil and coal alone.

The opposition benches, and in particular those who are members of the official opposition must soon indicate their support for replacement nuclear power.  This should not and cannot be used as a political football.  What they say in private should be express publicly in spite of their leader’s attempts to pander to the so called green lobby.  It is particularly pleasing to me that the loyal opposition members are also in touch with the Government’s position rather that their own front bench.

I particularly welcome the government’s consultation taking place at present and I applaud the decision by the government to have the most open and extensive debate on the issue of nuclear energy. Following the judicial review, which I believe the government took too lightly, it is important that no one can deny that we are having the most comprehensive consultation before any decision is made.

I hope the result of this consultation will be clear and unambiguous and will create the confidence necessary to ensure the private sector proceed with the finance for replacement nuclear build.  The consequential benefits of additional employment prospects, security of supply of energy will assist the UK in achieving our reduction in emissions targets by 2020.  But most of all we put the needs of Britain and its people first.

But the issue I wish to raise today is the question of reprocessing.  Within the consultation the government has concluded that any nuclear power stations built in the UK should proceed on the basis that spent fuel will not be reprocessed.

I believe this is a serious mistake.  The dismissal of this valuable technology is in my view very short sighted and goes against current trends in other countries.
I recently visited France and saw first hand their successful reprocessing plant. There is also acceptance of the need for reprocessing in Russia and a strong possibility that the US plan to re enter reprocessing market

During my visit to the le Hague reprocessing plant I was impressed with the safety and efficiency of the operation of the plant and their industrial capability to reprocess fuel from 90 to 100 home and international reactors. They are reprocessing 1700 tonnes per year and have processed over 21,000 tonnes since the plant began. They have lucrative contracts with thirty or so foreign companies which include a return to sender clause.
Half of the le Hague’s work is dedicated to meeting the demands of the French nuclear industry.  They recover 95 to 96% of the content of spent fuel rods for future use in their nuclear reactors.

There is a need to fully discuss and consider the government’s view on reprocessing.  I believe it is important we closely examine the reprocessing process to be able to recover 96% of our spent fuel.  To use mox fuel in our future nuclear power stations would be a very strong argument for reprocessing and must be considered.

Minimising the volume of high level waste is desirable and being able to obtain income from the contracts for reprocessing which can be substantial would be invaluable.  We must carefully examine how reprocessing can be made as cost effective here as it appears to be in France.

I would ask the government to look seriously at the issue of reprocessing and the benefits this technology would bring.

Insight Radio

In the age of digital switchover, a subject I have talked about on many occasions, there is one particular radio station in my constituency which I would like to bring to the attention of the house.

Insight Radio, previously known as VIP on Air is a unique radio station for blind and partially sighted listeners.  Based in Glasgow, insight broadcasts over the internet to listeners all across the globe. The radio broadcasts news, information and service updates to its listeners.

TELL STORY ABOUT TRAIN JOURNEY FROM GLASGOW TO EDINBURGH

Broadcasting companies should be looking at helping Insight Radio and the 2 million plus potential listeners in the UK it could serve.  One of my campaigns after the summer recess is to help the station increase its area of influence ensuring that no one faces social exclusion in the digital age.

ATMs

The most satisfying campaign I am involved with is ATMs.  It started as a lone voice but with the support of the Treasury Select Committee and Ministers it has grown to be very successful.  If I can now provide the House with an update regarding non fee charging cash machines.

In 2005 I first raised the issue of banks and building societies who charged between £1.50 and £1.75 to withdraw money from their cash machines.  A constituent first came to me with the concern after he could only withdraw £30 of his £40 benefits because he was charged £1.75 for the transaction.

I worked with the Evening Times, a local paper in the Glasgow area and together we began a local campaign calling on banks and building societies to stop charging people to withdraw their own money.  I was pleased to see the first non fee charging cash machine installed by the Royal Bank of Scotland in the credit union in Yoker in my constituency and promise 400 more across the UK.

Since then HBOS announced their intention to install 100 fee free cash machines in low income areas around Scotland and the North of England.  74 have been installed and agreements have been made about the arrangements for the remaining 26.  38 of these are in Scotland, but only one so far in my constituency.  HBOS have sent their ATM team to Glasgow North West to identify a further suitable site for another cash machine and I intend to work with them again to suggest some suitable venues.

As well as putting non fee charging ATMs in place it was also important to have identification visible to customers to show which machines were free to withdraw and which still charged.  HBOS was the first to colour code their ATMs to show their free withdrawals.
Nationwide have also introduced colour coding with green for free withdrawals and red if they charged.  This has been a helpful move ensuring customers are not fooled into believing they will not be charged.

I hope that all banks and building societies will follow in the footsteps of HBOS, Nationwide and RBS in making all their cash machines free to withdraw.  I was pleased to have been involved in this campaign since its inception and hope the Treasury Select Committee and the Government will continue to put pressure on the remaining banks to do the same.
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Communications Allowance

Mr Deputy Speaker, I would now like to briefly mention the new Communications Allowance of £10,000 to each Member of the House of Commons allowing them to communicate directly with constituents.

This is a fantastic initiative which allows me to contact each and every one of my constituents – something I have always wanted to do on a regular basis but because of lack of resources I couldn’t.

I intend to send a questionnaire to my constituents asking for their opinions, thoughts and concerns on a number of important local and national issues ranging from their hospital experiences to energy supplies, protection on mobile phones from child pornography to recycling.  This will be a great tool in being able to keep in touch with constituents on the issues that interest and affect them the most and I encourage other Honourable Friends to do the same.

I have read with interest the draft legislative programme before the Queen’s Speech in November by our Prime Minister outlining the Bills that will be scrutinised by both Houses during the next parliamentary session.
I have introduced two 10 minute rule bills on the issue of employment retention/rehabilitation leave.  The idea behind this is to ensure workers who have suffered injury or disability whilst in employment can have their employment retained until they are ready to come back to work after coming to terms with their disability.

I welcome the draft legislative programme on employment simplification and look forward to discussing with the Ministers and departments on how employment retention can be incorporated into the bill.
Nigeria

Mr Deputy Speaker, I turn now to my interest in Africa and in particular, Nigeria, the All Party Parliamentary Group of which I am Chair.  The APPG has worked hard and consistently to raise the profile of the country in the House. We have undertaken two visits to the country and will make a third trip this year. I would like to seek reassurance that the government does not underestimate the importance of Nigeria to this country, particularly as there are at least one million Nigerians living in the UK. We need to invest the political and developmental resources that reflect the importance of Nigeria to the UK and to the world.

Nigeria produces more oil than any other African country. This makes it important not only to the UK, but to the international community as a whole. For example, it provides about 11% of the United States’ crude oil. The crisis in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s oil producing region, has shut out an estimated 25% of oil production. Further escalation of this crisis and failure to address the problems at the root of the crisis will impact oil production further. This has and will continue to impact on global oil prices with related consequences.
While the US will go else where for its oil short fall other countries will feel the knock on effect of higher prices and reduced supply – and we know it will be the poorest who will suffer the most.

It is therefore of crucial importance to the UK that proper resources and expertise are invested in Nigeria, and that it is acknowledged that a general one-size-fits-all solution to the country’s economic, social and political difficulties cannot work.

The Niger Delta crisis unfortunately cannot be solved in the immediate future. It will be a long drawn-out process and it is important that we support the Nigerian federal and local governments in their attempts to solve the crisis. The Delta has been overtaken by militant and criminal activity and the area is awash with small arms.

The crisis is a result of corruption, a lack of accountability, inefficiency, and miserable standards of living in the face of highly profitable resources that have not been wisely exploited. The UK can and must play an important role in supporting public service delivery and capacity-building in the area.

Another reason Nigeria deserves the UK’s attention is because it is always one of the first countries to volunteer troops for peacekeeping missions. It is a force for stability in the region, and should Nigeria destabilise, so will the region and beyond.

It is Africa’s most populous nation, with an estimated population of 140 million. As I have said, the UK itself is home to at least 1 million Nigerians. It is wrong that the majority of people in Nigeria survive in abject poverty, without access to clean water, education, and healthcare; without electricity and without infrastructure. If anything causes Nigeria to destabilise it will be the lack of opportunities for its millions of unemployed youth.
It has all the ingredients that create frustration, grievances and communal violence, which always has potential to spread.

We should applaud the Metropolitan Police for their support of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in their efforts to crack down on corruption and their use of the Proceeds of Crime Act to do so.
We should seek to continue such support and to be creative in the ways in which we can help Nigeria along the long path to development, particularly in the areas of water provision, electricity supply and job creation.

The UK must show its support for the steps forward that the country takes and also be willing criticise it for those actions that hinder its progress. In the words of our former prime minister: much has been done, but there is more to do.
CHANGING FACE OF YOUR CONSTITUENCY FROM ELDERLY TO YOUNG

Glasgow North West was once a constituency with a high population of elderly.  Nowadays this has changed significantly and the constituency is now home to young people and families.  It is important however that whilst doing everything we can to ensure young people and families are protected and supported we must not forget the elderly population who worked their whole lives giving back to society.

I look forward to the summer recess to reflect on the parliamentary year just passed but to look forward to the new session, new Prime Minister and Government and new challenges the year ahead will bring and of course to be able to meet my constituents personally, whether in their home, place of work, on the street.  This is the work I enjoy the most.

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