SCOTLAND: STONE WELCOMES 'NO NUCLEARS' NEWS FOR NIGG YARD

12.00.00am GMT Wed 5th Nov 2003

Jamie Stone, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP, has welcomed the news that plans to decommission nuclear submarines at Nigg fabrication yard have been abandoned.

Owners of the yard, Kellog Brown and Root, confirmed last night that it has withdrawn from the consortium bidding for the contract to dismantle a number of nuclear submarines currently stored at Rosyth. It was believed that Nigg was being considered as a potential secondary site for the decommissioning works.

The move comes only days after Liberal Democrats unanimously opposed the proposals at the party's Autumn Conference last Saturday, and less than 24 hours before MSPs were to discuss the matter in the Scottish Parliament.

Jamie Stone has welcomed the news as a 'sensible decision' and is now calling for efforts to be focused on safeguarding the future of the yard.

Commenting today, Mr Stone said:

"This is a sensible decision and a very welcome change of heart. Everyone in the area was agreed that decommissioning of submarines should have no place in Nigg.

"I am pleased that the strength of feeling on this issue has been recognised. All the campaigners against the proposals will be relieved and delighted at this outcome.

"I hope that discussions can now focus on safeguarding the future of the yard. Having worked in the yard myself, I have always been very clear that its future should continue to lie with building facilities rather than scrapping them.

"I am contacting the owners of the yard to discover what it intends to do now. It is important that we continue to press ahead with developing an ambitious new future for Nigg."