Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Civil Nuclear Road Map and Wylfa

23 January 2024 · 2 other contributors · 3,407 words

Opened by Virginia Crosbie Con Ynys Môn

Responding minister: Andrew Bowie

ClimateEnergy

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Virginia Crosbie raised concerns about civil nuclear road map and wylfa in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about large-scale nuclear development at Wylfa in Ynys Mn due to its historical economic benefits and ideal conditions for nuclear power.
  • Specific asks of government include naming Wylfa as the site for a further large-scale project and expediting the process to identify a partner, with a suggestion to use funds from EDF and Urenco to buy out Hitachi.
  • Minister expresses pleasure in serving under Mr Clive Betts and acknowledges the debate's importance for Ynys Mn and the future of the UK nuclear industry.

Key requests to Government

I urge the Government to name Wylfa as the site for a further large-scale project and expedite the process of identifying a partner. Additionally, I suggest using funds from EDF and Urenco to buy out Hitachi, ensuring the land and intellectual property are in UK ownership.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Virginia Crosbie Con Ynys Môn

I am concerned about the potential for large-scale nuclear development at Wylfa in my constituency of Ynys Môn. This would be a transformational opportunity, being the largest inward investment in Wales's history and a significant action towards climate change mitigation and energy security. The site is ideal due to its existing grid connection, solid bedrock, abundant cooling water, and pre-prepared land from Horizon Nuclear Power under Hitachi. Local community support is strong as they remember Wylfa's economic benefits in the past.

Other contributors (2)
  • Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Con North Cotswolds

    Expressed enthusiasm for Wylfa and urged the Minister to expedite the nuclear road map due to the anticipated decline in nuclear power from 2030 with the decommissioning of advanced gas-cooled reactors, suggesting a focus on small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors as potential solutions. Asked the lead MP to do anything to speed up the consultation for the geological disposal site at Sellafield, which is crucial for its operations.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Impressed by Virginia Crosbie's initiative in bringing forward the debate, highlighting her consistent work on this issue and expressing a desire for similar opportunities to create jobs and benefit from manufacturing, apprenticeships across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Government Response

Andrew Bowie

It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Mr Clive Betts. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn on securing this debate, which is important not only for her constituency but also for the future direction of travel for the nuclear industry in the UK. My hon. Friend has championed the case for a future nuclear project at Wylfa through numerous visits and committee memberships. I welcome the opportunity to discuss our nuclear plans and Wylfa, reiterating the Government's determination to ensure that nuclear plays a central role in our future energy mix by building up to 24 GW of nuclear power by 2050, which will quadruple our current capacity. The civil nuclear road map sets out how we will achieve this, including exploring gigawatt-scale projects after Sizewell C and plans for advanced and small modular reactors. We are committed to making investment decisions on 3 to 7 GW every five years between 2030 and 2044. The minister also highlighted the importance of a geological disposal facility and the comprehensive policies for growth across the nuclear lifecycle, including finding a suitable location for this facility. He thanked my hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn and other Members for their support in ensuring that the UK is one of the best places to invest in civil nuclear. The minister also discussed the benefits of nuclear developments for economic prospects, particularly in Wales and at Wylfa. He concluded by reiterating the Government's commitment to harnessing unique strengths and becoming a leading nuclear energy nation once again.

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