At a conference organised jointly by Scottish Engineering and Unite the subject of supply and costs of electricity in the immediate future were high on the agenda.

One specific point raised from the conference floor concerned the Scottish Government's plans to provide 31% of electricity from renewables by the year 2011 - given that the present level is 17% and since 2000 the growth rate has only been 1% per annum.

Dr Peter Hughes, Chief Executive of Scottish Engineering said: "This conference should give the Scottish Government a wake up call concerning the strength of feeling about the energy supply situation.
We have said for some time that we need a sustainable, secure and affordable supply of electricity for the immediate future and beyond.

"First Minister Alex Salmond and his team at Holyrood must get their heads out of the sand as regards the nuclear issue. We need a balanced generation system for Scotland's energy needs."

Speaking on behalf of the UK Government, Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change Mike O'Brien MP stressed that nuclear is not only good for the environment it is also good for the economy. He added: "Energy supply is an increasingly important part of any country's security. We cannot become over dependent on any one form of generation and increasingly renewables form an important part of the Labour Government's policy."

He concluded by saying: "The energy revolution is not just about renewables and efficient carbon collection systems but also investment in nuclear, and making sure that as things change we adapt to them in order to get the best economic advantage for being at the forefront of the energy revolution."

Other speakers included Dr Mike Farley of Doosan Babcock, Sandy Rae from Scottish Power, former Energy Minister Brian Wilson and Derek Simpson from Unite.