LISTEN: Concerns over radioactive material exchange
Dounreay radioactive material flown to US with Highland MSP unhappy at what the final outcome will be for the "weapons-grade" resources.
Radioactive material from Dounreay has been flown to the United States as part of an announcement from February this year between the Westminster Government and US.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron agreed an exchange of highly-enriched uranium for American uranium which will be converted into medical isotopes to diagnose and treat cancer.
Mr Cameron had called it a "win-win" with the UK getting rid of harmful waste, but Friends of the Earth said that transportation carried huge risks.
Saturday's flight took place under tight security from Wick John O'Groats Airport, 30 miles from Dounreay, and was the first movement of material held at the Caithness plant to the US since the announcement.
But Highland SNP MSP Maree Todd has criticised the weekend's flight, she said:
"I've learned that they're transporting what is weapons-grade uranium out to America and I think that these sorts of weapons are immoral, so obviously I have a concern about that once it reaches it's destination, but there are risks with moving the material and I feel it's 'safe' here"
"I understand it's being exchanged for medical materials but I wasn't aware that we were a bartering nation - if we need these then we pay for them - we don't exchange harmful nuclear material"
"This is a typical example of the lack of communication around nuclear, it's very timely with the announcement of Hinkley Point C, any nuclear produces waste and the waste has to be dealt with"
"Scotland as a nation has gone down the route of non-nuclear - weapons or power - but we're accepting of what is here and what we have to deal with"
"The UK government unfortunately take a different viewpoint - on all of these issues"