Data Centres: Energy Demand

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Thursday 16th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Whitehead (Lab)]

I have a feeling that the noble Lord will shortly be in receipt of a further letter from me on this subject. It is the case that the Modern Slavery Act, particularly in terms of a number of the concerns that have been raised about the more offset arrangements as far as modern slavery is concerned, needs some uprating. That is being considered, but as to some of his further points, I think I will need to write to him further.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that new nuclear is important, in terms of both data centres and our clean energy programme? Will he confirm that the only way we can get new nuclear at places such as Hunterston in East Lothian, where we currently have a nuclear power station, which is much needed in Scotland, is if on 7 May we get rid of the incompetent SNP Administration?

[Lord Whitehead (Lab)]

I have lots of reasons to agree with my noble friend about particular Administrations and how they might be replaced. As far as the future of AI nuclear is concerned, it is certainly the case that new nuclear can sit very well alongside, for example, AI growth zones. One example of that is the Wylfa area, where the contract for a new SMR has just been signed, which will also be an AI growth zone where a number of data centres can establish themselves and directly use the power coming from that new SMR on that site.