Nuclear Energy Policy: Climate Change

Shannon supported nuclear power but stressed the need to balance it with safety and security, agreeing that while not a panacea, nuclear is currently necessary.

Fletcher underscored the economic importance of the 'nuclear arc' stretching from Anglesey through Sellafield, highlighting job opportunities for highly skilled engineers across multiple sites.

Nichols emphasised the local benefits to her constituency from Hinkley Point C contracts and called on the Government to provide certainty regarding future nuclear projects through a timely White Paper release.

Hill shared enthusiasm for advanced modular reactor provision, noting its economic impact in Hartlepool and support for EDF’s green investment initiatives.

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn on securing this evening’s debate and her fantastic recent election result. Colleagues have made interventions, including Jim Shannon, Katherine Fletcher, Charlotte Nichols, and Mike Hill. The Prime Minister met an apprentice from Hartlepool when the Cabinet went to Sunderland. Nuclear energy plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. In September 2016, we gave the go-ahead to Hinkley Point C; and in June 2018, £200 million was committed through our landmark nuclear sector deal for advanced nuclear technologies. The Government understand the important role that nuclear plays, ensuring local and national benefits are realised. We set a legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Between 1990 and 2017, we reduced emissions by more than 40% while growing our economy by more than two thirds, decarbonising faster than any other G20 country. The energy White Paper will set out a clear strategy for decarbonising energy, driving up clean growth opportunities, and demonstrating international leadership in the build-up to COP26. Net zero is good business. A substantial increase in low-carbon generation will be needed; nuclear will have an important role providing firm low-carbon power and complementing variable renewable generation. Hinkley Point C will provide significant economic benefits during its construction and operation, including more than 25,000 new employment opportunities and up to 64% of the value of construction contracts to UK-registered companies.

During the previous Parliament, I met some of the people involved in the Hinkley Point C project who told me that all regions of the United Kingdom would benefit from those jobs. Can the Minister confirm that Northern Ireland will gain from the construction of the project?

I am happy to write back to my hon. Friend on how much of the benefit has gone to businesses in Northern Ireland. A total of almost £4 billion will go into the regional economy over the lifetime of the project, composed of about £1.5 billion during construction and about £2.4 billion during operations.

Does the Minister agree that we should not only seek to replicate established technologies, but use the new nuclear base-load as an opportunity to innovate and become a world leader in the sector?

Acknowledged the disappointment over the suspension of Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station, highlighted successes at Hinkley Point C, including benefits for Wales such as employment and contracts worth over £150 million. Emphasised commitment to exploring alternative funding models for future nuclear projects and noted the Government’s investment in the nuclear sector through deals like Trawsfynydd and a £200 million sector deal aimed at reducing costs across the industry. Discussed support for advanced technologies including small modular reactors, which could potentially support up to 40,000 jobs.