John Purvis
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Background
John Purvis is one of two Scottish MEPs. [1] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/John_Purvis#endnote_con)
A Conflict of Interest?
Pro-Nuclear
Purvis is a keen supporter of nuclear power, being one of the signatories to a Foratom declaration in support of increased nuclear power in the European Union. [2] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/John_Purvis#endnote_foratom)
He has also advocated that nuclear is the solution to Scotland's energy problems at a conference of the European Movement.
“Scotland currently has a target of 40% of electricity coming from renewables by 2020. This just can not be done,” Purvis told the conference in 2005. “In Scotland, we have Hunterston, Chapelcross and Torness nuclear power stations but Chapelcross has closed and the others are reaching the end of their lives and yet we have no plans to build even one more nuclear power station,” he said.
“If we do not make a decision about nuclear power soon, as North Sea oil and gas run out and our nuclear power capacity expires, we will be dependent on importing the bulk of our energy from some of the most unreliable sources in the world such as Siberia, the Middle East and North Africa.” [3] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/John_Purvis#endnote_em)
Yet Investing in Nuclear Companies
In his register of interests at the European Parliament, John Purvis lists amongst his appointments that he is the Non-executive Director, and a shareholder of the European Utilities Investment Trust. [4] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/John_Purvis#endnote_EU)
According to the latest (2006) Annual Report for the European Utilities Trust plc, nearly 50 per cent of its net assets - over £10 million of investments - were in companies with nuclear interests.[5] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/John_Purvis#endnote_eutrust) Many of these companies would benefit financially if there was an EU-adoption of new nuclear build.
External Links
- ^ Conservatives Website (http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=people.person.page&PersonID=3855)
- ^ Foratom, Declaration on Climate Change and Nuclear Energy (http://www.foratom.be/ClimateChangeSem/3%203152-05-0004%20MEP%20Declaration%20(signature%20version)%20-%20Rev%20%202005%2010%2025.pdf)
- ^ Scottish Conservatives, An MEP Told a Conference at the Weekend that Nuclear Power was the Answer to Scotland’s Energy Needs and Environmental Goals (http://www.scottishtorymeps.org.uk/archive/0506/ReturnLatestTopic.asp?offset=20&id=87), November 19, 2005.
- ^ European Parliament,Declaration of of Members' Financial Interests (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif/729_05-12-2006.pdf), John Purvis MEP, December 5, 2006
- ^ European Utilities Trust Plc, Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended (http://www.nuclearspin.org/images/c/c6/Eutrust.pdf), July 31, 2006 (only front page and relevant page scanned)