MINISTERS are set to come under fire for “failing to protect people” from nuclear weapon convoys passing through Renfrewshire and around the border of East Renfrewshire.

Lorries carrying explosives and nuclear warheads to the Royal Navy armaments depot at Coulport regularly pass through both areas, as well as many others in the Central Belt and Borders.

However, campaigners say no information on what to do in an emergency involving a nuclear reactor is circulated in any of the areas the vehicles pass through.

Last August, a report highlighted Freedom of Information requests from Green MSPs which showed no councils have conducted risk assessments in relation to the convoys.

Mark Ruskell, environment spokesman for the Green Party, will lead a debate in Holyrood today demanding police, fire and rescue services and local authorities have sufficient plans in place to respond to an emergency.

He said: “Many people are still surprised when told nuclear weapons convoys routinely pass by houses and schools – and what shocks people is councils have not assessed the risk, despite councils being category one responders and expected to be among the first to deal with any incident.

“The Scottish Government, which is responsible for community safety and emergency planning, cannot brush off this issue because defence is a reserved matter. It must urgently lead a review of the situation and make its findings public.

“SNP and Labour MSPs have supported my motion, so ministers are under pressure.”

Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur and West Scotland MSP Ross Greer have backed the motion.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We expect any transportation to be carried out safely and securely and have made that position clear to the UK Government, which is responsible.”