Working Group on Scotland Without Nuclear Weapons
Minutes of Meeting : April 9, 2008
Present:
Bruce Crawford, MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business (Chair)
John Deighan, The Catholic Church
Richard Dixon, WWF Scotland
Reverend Ian Galloway, The Church of Scotland
Dr Rebecca Johnson, The Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy
Isobel Lindsay, Scotland4Peace
Alan Mackinnon, Scottish CND
Dave Moxham, STUC
Osama Saeed, Scottish-Islamic Foundation
Gillian Slider, Scottish Youth Parliament
Professor William Walker, St Andrews University
In Attendance:
Elspeth Hough, Cabinet Secretariat, Scottish Government
Rebecca Winterstein, Cabinet Secretariat, Scottish Government
Paul Johnston, Scottish Government Legal Directorate
Ian McMahon, Scottish Enterprise (observer)
John McFarlane, Special Adviser
Claire McGuigan, Office of Minister for Parliamentary Business.
Apologies
1. Apologies had been received from Councillor Robb and Scott Blair.
Agenda Item 1: Introductory Comments/welcome
2. The Minister for Parliamentary Business welcomed participants to the meeting.
Agenda item 2: Roundtable introductions
3. Participants introduced themselves briefly and outlined their aspirations for the Working Group.
Agenda item 3: Governance arrangements and ground-rules
4. The Minister for Parliamentary Business introduced the discussion on governance and ground-rules, highlighting the provisions of the Scotland Act as these affected the Group, and noting that the remit of the Group had been drawn up with care, to ensure that issues for discussion were within legal competence, dealing with issues of direct relevance to a devolved Scotland.
5. The Group:
a) discussed and noted the proposed governance arrangements and ground-rules for its operation including the scope of the designated remit;
b) noted that the Minister for Parliamentary Business would serve as official spokesperson for the Group and that, in commenting in a personal capacity, Group members should be clear that they did not speak for the Group;
c) noted that it was important to be clear about the ownership of reports, which would be produced by Group members for Scottish Ministers and should be submitted, in the first instance to the Minister for Parliamentary Business;
d) noted that it would also be important to ensure that the final report adequately reflected the views of all Group members;
e) agreed that it would be helpful to consult external experts where appropriate.
6. The Group agreed the Governance arrangements and ground-rules subject to the factual correction of the reference within remit theme 3, which should read "at meetings of the Non-Proliferation Treaty" and clarification that the term "HM Naval Base Clyde" in remit theme 1 referred to Coulport and Faslane. (Action: Secretariat).
Agenda item 4: Work programme
7. The Minister for Parliamentary Business introduced the proposed work programme (SWNW(08)03) which set out the proposed structure for the next 12 months.
8. The Group agreed the work programme subject to the addition of Dr Johnson to the lead members for theme 2. (Action: Secretariat).
Agenda item 5: Discussion of remit theme 1: "in the event of a decision to remove nuclear weapons from HM Naval Base Clyde, to examine the economic impact and to identify options for the development of alternative employment opportunities".
9. Dave Moxham of the STUC introduced discussion of the first theme of the remit, drawing on research published by the STUC and Scottish CND in 2007 entitled "Cancelling Trident: the Economic and Employment Consequences for Scotland", suggesting that this might be a useful starting point for the Group's considerations.
10. The Group:
a) noted that Dave would circulate a copy of the report for consideration (Action: Dave Moxham);
b) noted that the scope of work taken forward required to remain within the remit and focus on the removal of nuclear weapons;
c) agreed the importance of establishing an agreed baseline for working assumptions;
d) noted that short/medium term effects of decommissioning would require to be considered;
e) agreed that it would be important to think broadly and creatively to identify long-term sustainable solutions;
f) noted that advice submitted to the Scottish Government would require to be clearly evidenced;
g) agreed that it would be helpful to identify key contacts within the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Ministry of Defence. ( Action: Secretariat and Dave Moxham);
h) agreed that the identified lead members should take forward activity under this theme and report back at the next meeting. ( Action: theme 1 lead members).
Agenda item 6: Discussion of theme 3: "explore the implications of seeking observer status at meetings of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and advise the Scottish Government on that process".
11. Dr Johnson introduced paper SWNW(08)04 which discussed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and briefly explained the arrangements for observers at NPT meetings.
12. The Group:
a) noted that a decision to apply for observer status would be a matter for the Scottish Government, following consideration of all relevant factors;
b) noted that it would be important to be clear about the legal implications of any recommendation to the Scottish Government;
c) noted that the UK Defence Secretary had made clear the UK's long-term vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, implementation of which would have implications for Scotland, including the removal of nuclear weapons from the Clyde;
d) noted that many NPT states parties were not aware that all of the UK's nuclear submarines and warheads were homeported and stored in Scotland, and that its entire nuclear force was thus deployed out of Scotland;
e) noted that there was a lack of information and understanding in Scotland, the UK and international community concerning the matters for which the Scottish Government had responsibility (including safety and security surrounding nuclear installations, the provision of emergency services and policing of these sites), as a consequence of the UK Government's nuclear weapon and non-proliferation policies;
f) noted that the second session of the Preparatory Committee ("PrepCom") for the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2010 would be meeting in Geneva from 28 April 2008, that the third session will be held in New York from May 4 to 15, 2009, and that the next review conference would take place from April 26 to May 21, 2010 in New York;
g) noted the example of a circular letter sent by heads of the Scottish Catholic and Protestant Churches to a previous meeting of the NPT;
h) agreed that it would be helpful to produce a note clarifying the process by which applications for observer status might be submitted and considered and assessing the relative benefits and implications of any such application;
i) agreed that the identified lead members should take forward activity under this theme and report back at the next meeting. ( Action: theme 3 lead members).
Agenda item 7 : Discussion of theme 4: "consider the adequacy of the current licensing and regulatory framework that exists in relation to HM Naval Base Clyde in relation to environmental, planning and transport issues".
13. Paul Johnston of the Scottish Government Legal Directorate introduced paper SWNW(08)05. This set out that Scottish Ministers had wide-ranging responsibilities in relation to environmental, planning and transport issues.
14. The Group:
a) noted that there would be merit in focusing attention on one issue in the first instance (e.g. transportation);
b) noted that while Health and Safety was not the responsibility of the Scottish Government, issues relating to Health and Safety could be communicated to the relevant legislator;
c) noted that some elements of UK and international law were also of relevance;
d) noted that there was an international interest in transparency and that the production of a paper identifying key issues transparently might be well received;
e) agreed that it would be helpful to understand the scope of the role of relevant regulators;
f) agreed that the lead members for sub-theme 4 should take forward activity on this issue and report back at the next meeting. ( Action: theme 4 lead members).
Agenda item 8: Group Communique
15. The Group agreed the text of a communiqué, to be placed on the website, summarising the discussions of its first meeting.
Agenda item 9: Future Meetings
16. The Group agreed a forward meeting programme, and that it would have an introductory discussion on themes 2 and 5 at the next meeting (Action: Secretariat).
Agenda item 10: AOB
17. The Minister for Parliamentary Business thanked Group members for their constructive participation.
Cabinet Secretariat
Scottish Government
April 2008