Over 1500 Scots travelling to Somerset to work on new nuclear power station

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Around 1600 Scots are working at the nuclear power plant in Somerset, fuelling calls for new stations north of the border.The GMB trade union said the block on nuclear meant Scotland is missing out on a massive jobs boost and supply chain opportunities.Hinkley Point C was given the green light by the Tories and another plant in Suffolk is under development.But the SNP Government is opposed to nuclear power and has the ultimate power to block new stations though the planning process.Figures produced by the GMB show how Hinkley Point has lured highly-skilled Scottish workers to ply their trade hundreds of miles from home.The union said nearly 15pc of the 12,000 workforce come from Scotland, figures confirmed by the plant.Hinkley’s spend with Scottish suppliers has also reached £101m, but this is small compared to the £2.2bn spent with companies in the South West.Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, called for the SNP Government to urgently reverse its opposition to nuclear energy.“If ministers want to understand the potential of new nuclear to reduce emissions and deliver safe, stable energy, they only need to listen to the experts.“If they want to understand the potential economic benefits of creating new nuclear facilities here, they only need to look at the Scots workers going south to Hinkley Point and the millions of pounds coming north.“Almost 2000 Scots are already travelling 500 miles to work on a new nuclear power station that has already generated more than £100m for Scottish suppliers.“For all sorts of good reasons, from Net Zero to the economy, Scottish ministers must move on nuclear energy.”Gilmour added that work to review extending existing nuclear facilities at Hunterston and Torness should begin