Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fusion Energy: Private Sector Investment

Tuesday 24 March 2026 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Labour MP Jo White asked the Minister about steps being taken to attract private sector investment for a fusion reactor.
  • The Minister highlighted a 200 million design and build contract for ILIOS with firms like Kier and Turner & Townsend, and noted the allocation of 1.3 billion over the spending review period for fusion.
  • The Minister welcomed the appointment of the ILIOS consortium to construct a fusion power plant in north Nottinghamshire but noted difficulties for Scottish constituents due to the SNP's stance on fusion energy.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jo White Lab Bassetlaw
Science & Technology Energy
Context

The race is on for large-scale production of fusion energy, with significant investments being made globally.

Question

What steps he is taking to attract private sector investment for a fusion reactor. Last December, Donald Trump's media and technology group purchased a Californian-based fusion energy company, putting his son Donald Jr. on the board in a $6 billion deal. The race is on for fusion energy production at scale. Will the Minister join me in welcoming the appointment of ILIOS consortium, led by Kier and Nuvia, to construct a fusion power plant in north Nottinghamshire? I am sure he agrees that will mean jobs and new skills and training for my constituency and beyond.

Answer from Chris McDonald

I do indeed welcome the £200 million design and build contract for ILIOS with, as my hon. Friend mentioned, Kier and firms like Turner & Townsend who can be relied on to deliver. We have allocated £1.3 billion over the spending review period for fusion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not confirm if the government will support ILIOS consortium specifically or address all aspects of private sector investment mentioned in the question.

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Q2 Jo White Lab Bassetlaw
Scotland Energy
Context

The SNP is uncertain about whether fusion energy qualifies as nuclear energy, which may affect Scottish participation in UK-wide efforts to advance fusion technology.

Question

Will the Minister join me in welcoming the appointment of ILIOS consortium, led by Kier and Nuvia, to construct a fusion power plant in north Nottinghamshire? I am sure he agrees that will mean jobs and new skills and training for my constituency and beyond. However, right now it would be difficult for constituents in Scotland to benefit because the SNP cannot decide whether fusion energy is nuclear energy.

Answer from Chris McDonald

I know that my hon. Friend's constituents will benefit, but right now it would be difficult for constituents in Scotland to benefit, because the SNP cannot decide whether fusion energy is nuclear energy. I can tell SNP Members that it is, and they should be supporting nuclear energy across the whole country.

Answered
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Q3 Jamie Stone Lib Dem Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Scotland Energy
Context

Dounreay in Scotland has a skilled nuclear workforce and is licensed for future developments. The site could be advantageous for the UK's nuclear future.

Question

The Treasury Bench would be particularly disappointed if I did not once again showcase what we have at Dounreay: a licensed site, a skilled workforce and a population who would greatly support playing a role in the development of fusion for the future. May I suggest that the Scottish Enterprise network might put its hand in its pocket to bring that forward, if that is helpful to His Majesty's Government?

Answer from Chris McDonald

I share the hon. Member's affection for Dounreay—I have family based in Reay and Thurso and have enjoyed many a holiday on the north coast of Scotland. As he said, it has a talented and experienced nuclear workforce, and I very much hope that they will play a part in Britain's nuclear future.

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific suggestion about using Scottish Enterprise for facilitating fusion development at Dounreay.

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