Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Nuclear Energy Capacity

Tuesday 16 April 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government announced a nuclear road map in January to deploy up to 24 GW of nuclear power by 2050
  • The road map plans to make investment decisions of 3 GW to 7 GW every five years between 2030 and 2040
  • Prime Minister announced significant investment in developing the nuclear skills pipeline to fill 40,000 new jobs

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Clarkson
Energy
Context

The question arises from a broader context of increasing reliance on nuclear power to meet climate targets and ensure energy security.

Question

What steps she is taking to increase nuclear energy capacity. The historic nuclear road map that I announced in January reconfirmed the Government's ambition to deploy up to 24 GW of nuclear power by 2050.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

The historic nuclear road map that I announced in January reconfirmed the Government's ambition to deploy up to 24 GW of nuclear power by 2050. The road map sets out plans to make investment decisions concerning 3 GW to 7 GW every five years between 2030 and 2040.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Chris Clarkson
Employment Energy
Context

The question is prompted by the need to bolster local communities' involvement in nuclear energy projects through increased skills training and employment.

Question

Nuclear is essential not just for our economy but for our national security. A truly sovereign supply does not just mean commissioning new reactors but increasing our skills base, so I welcome the £750 million invested in that. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that people in communities such as Heywood and Middleton can access that skills funding, so they can take advantage of high-skilled, well-paid jobs in the sector?

Answer from Andrew Bowie

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. He is a doughty champion in this area—indeed, he should be with Atom Valley in his constituency. As he references, last month the Prime Minister announced significant investment in developing the nuclear skills pipeline, helping the sector to fill 40,000 new jobs by the end of the decade, including supporting plans to double the number of nuclear apprentices and quadruple the number of specialist sites and nuclear fission PhDs.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)