Alexander attacks nuclear 'scares'

Douglas Alexander has criticised the use of "scare tactics" in the debate over where nuclear waste is stored.

The Scotland secretaryalso confirmed that responsibility for dealing with nuclear waste north of the border had now been devolved.

He was speaking during Scottish questions in the Commons on Tuesday after the SNP's Angus MacNeil asked for assurance that parts of Western Scotland would not be used for large-scale dumping of radioactive waste.

Referring to the stark warnings from opposition parties over the issue, Alexander told MP he would not indulge in "ill-informed scare tactics".

"I condemn those politicians who choose to opportunistically raise fears rather than deal with facts on this issue," he added.

Alexander also stressed that the issue of nuclear waste was being taken seriously in government.

There had been a "serious and substantial attempt by the Scottish Executive and the UK government to address the important issue of legacy nuclear waste", he said.