Labour Euro-MP Glenys Kinnock was today criticised severely by fellow Welsh MEP, Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru) for failing to back tough new safeguards on transporting nuclear waste.
Ms Evans, the Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader, condemned the Labour MEP's decision to vote against a measure that would have made it illegal to transport nuclear waste through an area without first notifying the local council and seeking their approval. Ms Evans and fellow Plaid Cymru Euro-MP Eurig Wyn both supported the measure, which was however defeated.
Speaking from Strasbourg, Jill Evans MEP said:
"I am appalled that Labour MEPs including Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan from Wales effectively backed a cover up of nuclear waste transports.
”It is local councils that are responsible for emergency planning arrangements and local councils that would have to deal first hand if anything went wrong in transporting nuclear waste. Local government is the best placed to co-ordinate this kind of activity locally and it's outrageous to keep them in the dark on matters like this.
”We also have to think about openness and transparency. After all, people have every right to know if potentially hazardous nuclear waste is being transported through their communities and it is local councils that are once again best placed to pass on this kind of information.
”Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan must explain their action to their constituents, who, thanks to the opposition of Labour MEPs, will now remain in the dark about nuclear waste transports in their area."
The Plaid Cymru Euro-MPs Jill Evans and Eurig Wyn represent the whole of Wales in the European Parliament.
MEPs were voting on an amendment by the Green/European Free Alliance Group of which Plaid Cymru is a member to rules governing the management of nuclear waste that would have prohibited the transport of nuclear waste without prior notification and approval of the local authority of the area through which the waste is to be transported. The amendment, opposed by Labour MEPs, was defeated.
Diwedd/Ends.
