John Hutton, Westminster's Business Secretary, yesterday dismissed as "inaccurate and ridiculous" claims he intended to grab planning powers from the Scottish Government so nuclear power stations could be built in Scotland.

Mike Weir, the SNP's energy spokesman at the Commons, raised the issue during questions to the Secretary of State.

The MP for Angus asked Mr Hutton: "Whatever his plans for a new generation of Anglo-French nuclear plants, the minister will be aware that there is a majority in the Scottish Parliament, including many of his own party, who are thoroughly opposed to new nuclear plants. Will the minister take this opportunity to deny weekend reports he is seeking to remove the Scottish Parliament's planning powers in respect to nuclear stations?"

Saying he was "not going to comment on inaccurate and ridiculous press comment", the Business Secretary said: "We've got to think very seriously about energy interdependence within the UK and my concern about the stance that he and his party have taken is that there is a very real danger that that will be compromised.

"It is one thing for SNP politicians to strut around with their rhetoric about nuclear while at the same time continuing to rely on nuclear power generated in the UK."

Mr Weir insisted the minister had ducked the issue. "Mr Hutton was given the opportunity to give a straight answer to a straight question. He refused to give a straight answer, which must raise serious concerns that he is plotting in the background to impose new nuclear plants on an unwilling Scotland."

The SNP back bencher insisted his question was based on the earlier words of Mr Hutton, saying their implication "was clearly that the UK Government may wish to site nuclear power stations in Scotland".

A spokeswoman for Mr Hutton denied this, saying he "respects the devolution settlement and is not seeking to undermine it in any way".

She pointed out the UK's Energy Bill "only related to England and Wales" and said: "There would be little point for John to try to do something else somewhere else when we have not included Scotland in the clause in the bill."