Chapelcross began production in 1959

Mr Wilson visited the Chapelcross Power Station near Annan, which is due to cease production in March 2005.

It has already been agreed that the English and Welsh Nuclear Decommissioning Authority will be based in Cumbria, where Chapelcross's sister station Calder Hall stopped generating electricity last week.

An equivalent body - made up of civil servants and industry experts - is expected to be established in Scotland.

Mr Wilson was urged to locate it in Dumfriesshire to help offset the economic impact of the loss of Chapelcross and its 400 jobs.

The minister got an overview of British Nuclear Fuels' plans for decommissioning the Annan site.

He also met trade union representatives who have not given up hope of a replacement nuclear plant being built at the site.