House of Commons · Urgent Question
17 November 2025 · 20 other contributors
Opened by Llinos Medi PC Ynys Môn
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Llinos Medi raised concerns about small modular nuclear reactor power station wylfa 2025-11-17 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm the development of the UK’s first small modular reactor (SMR) power station at Wylfa on Anglesey? The urgency is due to the potential economic and social benefits for the region, following numerous false starts and broken promises. The MP seeks assurance that this historic opportunity will not be squandered.
Question
Can the Minister confirm when the Rolls-Royce contract will be signed, the general design assessment completed, and the final investment decision made? Also, with most of the costs currently being funded privately, is the Government prepared to demonstrate its full commitment?
Minister reply
Rolls-Royce is taking forward three SMRs initially. People will start to see jobs soon. We expect work on the site as early as next year, including 3,000 jobs during peak construction. The Government is committed and determined to ensure economic and social benefits are felt locally.
Question
Is the Minister eagerly awaiting the report of the regulatory review, particularly on outdated semi-urban population density criteria? Will he work with me to ensure that the benefits of the Heysham site are known across the industry?
Minister reply
We are considering existing sites and will continue our nuclear ambitions. The report from the regulatory regime will be issued in due course to ensure robust safety standards while being flexible for opportunities.
Question
If ruling out large-scale at Wylfa and ditching the 24 GW target, are the Government calling time on new large-scale nuclear? Also, who is right about the timeline for power generation from SMRs in the 2030s versus industry reports stating 2042?
Minister reply
We have committed almost £20 billion to build real projects like Sizewell C and the SMR programme. Wylfa was chosen as the best site for this project, delivering jobs and investment in Wales.
Question
New small modular reactors have real potential to help reduce our reliance on foreign gas and bring down energy bills, as well as bringing a welcome boost to jobs and investment in Anglesey. SMRs should be where the focus is when it comes to nuclear, not big, expensive nuclear power stations that cost multiples more and take far longer to build. The Liberal Democrats are pleased to see SMRs coming forward as part of a mix of cost-effective and safe decarbonised power generation, but will the Government please confirm that they will also maintain focus on boosting wind and solar power generation in order to bring down everyone’s energy bills?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is right to say how important this next generation of nuclear is—but alongside other technologies. The Government have been really clear that our clean power mission is about wind, solar and storage, but it is also about nuclear. That combination is how we deliver our energy security and get away from the volatility of fossil fuels, and it is how we create thousands of jobs across the country.
Question
My hon. Friend the Member for Thornbury and Yate (Claire Young) has been working closely with constituents who will now be disappointed that the alternative site of Oldbury has not gone forward, so can the Minister clarify what the future is for that site?
Minister reply
The hon. Member is right to highlight Oldbury, which is a hugely important nuclear site that is owned by Great British Energy Nuclear. We continue to look at the future potential for Oldbury and other sites. This is not the limit of the Government’s ambition on nuclear; it is the next stage of that ambition. Wylfa was judged as the best possible site for the SMR programme and it is right that we put our flagship programme on the best possible site, but with potential at Wylfa to increase that, which is a huge opportunity.
Question
I welcome the announcement of the new SMRs at Wylfa. This is British innovation we can be proud of, leading to decarbonisation of our electricity grid, and helping to combat climate change. It is exactly the sort of policy that my Exeter constituents want from this Government. Does the Minister agree that supply chains at Wylfa and Sizwell C will benefit businesses and workers across the entire United Kingdom, alongside the local areas where they are based?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right: we should all be—I know we are, and the consensus has been welcome—hugely proud of this British innovation. We have a huge opportunity to be at the forefront of a technology that I have no doubt will change the energy system of a great many countries around the world, and Britain can be at the leading edge of that. This is a hugely important moment, and we should recognise that.
Question
No one likes to consider the prospect of international conflict, but we have seen from that between Ukraine and Russia how dangerous a situation can be when fuel supply installations are targeted. What thought have the Government given to affording the same level of protection against either sabotage or external attack for these new smaller reactors as those that are already built into the construction of the larger plants?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman asks a typically important question. We take the security of our nuclear fleet in all its forms extremely seriously, and SMRs are a new part of that. The security arrangements will take into account the existing nuclear constabulary, which will look at security as soon as construction starts to ramp up on site.
Question
I congratulate the Minister on the announcement and the thousands of jobs that it will create. Is he as disappointed as I am in the SNP’s immature stance on new nuclear in Scotland that would mean that communities like mine in Ayrshire, where we have Hunterston, would not have access to thousands of new jobs? Is there anything that the Minister could do to change the SNP’s mind, short of a stonking Scottish Labour victory next year?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to say that the SNP’s policy on nuclear is immature. Nuclear has been an important part of Scotland’s energy mix for decades. As a result, tens of thousands of people have had good well-paid jobs in his constituency, across Ayrshire and across the other nuclear sites in Scotland.
Question
The Minister is right to say that we want as many individual components of these SMRs as possible to be built in the UK, as well as the final SMRs themselves, but what work is he doing across Government to ensure not just these SMRs, but the world’s SMRs are built in the UK?
Minister reply
That is a hugely important question. This is a significant moment for British innovation, because we are now moving forward quickly to ensure that we are at the forefront of this innovation, so that other countries that are already looking to the Rolls-Royce designs can benefit from them as well, but made in Britain.
Question
Will the Minister confirm what tangible steps are being taken to accelerate approval of Rolls-Royce’s design and other SMR designs, and by how much? When does he expect the first SMR to be operational at Wylfa?
Minister reply
The Minister confirms that while he cannot provide specific timelines, his noble Friend Lord Vallance will write with details. He notes an ambition for SMRs to be online in the mid-2030s and emphasises the importance of moving forward quickly.
Question
Will the Minister assure small and medium-sized businesses such as Delkia that they will benefit from this growth, supported by this Government?
Minister reply
The Minister assures that these projects will bring investment, apprenticeships, and opportunities for young people across various communities and small businesses, with an ambition of 70% of the supply chain products built in Britain.
Question
Will the Minister provide further information on the infrastructure required in Trawsfynydd, especially in relation to data centres and energy supply?
Minister reply
The Minister explains that AI growth zones are designed for strategic planning of power infrastructure to attract significant private investment. He offers to discuss specific questions outside the House.
Question
Will the Minister tell us more about the work being done to maximise the extra jobs and prosperity that will be delivered in Derby, Warrington, Wylfa and other sites as a result of this Labour Government’s investment?
Minister reply
The Minister emphasises wider economic benefits from nuclear jobs, including sustainable well-paid employment. He highlights the importance of Rolls-Royce's innovative project for the UK's future energy system.
Question
How can the Minister assure us that this will not turn into another HS2, with spiralling costs and missed deadlines?
Minister reply
The Minister commits to delivering the SMR programme as quickly as possible for energy security, highlighting Great British Energy Nuclear's expertise in steering projects forward.
Question
Will the Minister assure me that this is just a sign of more great things to come for Wales from this UK Labour Government?
Minister reply
The Minister thanks colleagues and emphasises job creation in Ynys Môn, with wider benefits across Wales through investment in transmission infrastructure and renewables.
Question
Will the Government commit to working with the Legislative Assembly to create a similar project in Northern Ireland that will provide power to homes and businesses throughout the area?
Minister reply
The Minister welcomes discussions on energy policy, noting his lack of direct responsibility for Northern Ireland but expressing willingness to look at Strangford as a future candidate for an SMR.
Question
What measures will the Government take to ensure that regulatory alignment is in place so that construction can start promptly for the advanced modular reactors project in Hartlepool, which involves £12 billion of economic input and 2,500 jobs? The September announcement with X-energy and Centrica outlines plans to build up to 12 AMRs.
Minister reply
The regulatory regime must maintain safety standards while being flexible enough to take advantage of opportunities quickly. We are working on this as swiftly as possible, ensuring private investment is unlocked by Government decisions to deliver these jobs across the country.
Question
Does the Minister agree that the SNP’s anti-nuclear stance defies logic given that nuclear power provides reliable baseload energy and is essential for security of supply? Moreover, Scotland imports nuclear energy from time to time when system capacity is insufficient.
Minister reply
The SNP's opposition to new nuclear projects in Scotland is not only economically unsound but also jeopardizes the region’s energy security. Nuclear power complements renewables, providing necessary balance and ensuring secure, clean, home-grown power.
Question
Does my hon. Friend agree that it is only due to this Labour Government's substantial investment in the domestic nuclear industry that we can reverse previous Conservative failures? Additionally, does he concur that by investing for the long term and collaborating closely with UK companies, this Government can deliver the jobs and energy system transformation required across constituencies?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is correct on both counts. The previous Government's lack of funding led to inadequate progress. In contrast, we have committed over £20 billion for nuclear projects since coming into power last year. This investment has attracted more than £50 billion in private sector investment due to the certainty and policy confidence provided by the UK government.
Government Response
I welcome the hon. Lady’s commitment to securing a new nuclear project in her constituency. Nuclear energy provides stable low-carbon baseload power, and the UK is committed to £17 billion for new nuclear projects, including £2.5 billion for SMRs led by Great British Energy Nuclear (GBE). Wylfa has been chosen as the site for GBE's first SMR project with up to three Rolls-Royce units initially, potentially hosting eight in total. This will deliver significant job creation and economic benefits locally. We are determined to progress this project and work with communities to ensure success.