Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the suitability of the Wylfa site on Anglesey for redevelopment as a new, large-scale nuclear power plant.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government believes there is an important role for large-scale nuclear in the UK and has been clear in its commitment to “at least one more” gigawatt power plant, subject to clear value for money for both consumers and taxpayers and all relevant approvals. The Wylfa Newydd site remains a candidate for new nuclear power, despite Hitachi’s withdrawal from the proposed nuclear project, and has the potential to host a range of nuclear technology – GW and/or small modular reactors – and the Government is continuing to discuss new projects with other viable companies and investors wishing to develop sites, including this one.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what role the development of nuclear power stations will have in the Government’s levelling up agenda; and whether regional disparities will be considered when determining which sites to prioritise for development.
Answered by Greg Hands
New nuclear can bring significant economic benefits, including high-skilled employment, to regions across the UK. The construction of Hinkley Point C has to-date seen EDF spend £3.5 billion in the south-west and create well over 10,000 job opportunities. It is for private developers to propose and develop projects at suitable sites, however in recognising the importance of nuclear, the government has set out a new £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund towards the development of nuclear projects. More details of the Fund and how it will operate will be released in due course. Government would expect to see similar levels of economic impacts to those at Hinkley in the regions where future power stations might be built.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential economic merits of proceeding with the Wylfa Nuclear Power plant project on Anglesey for (a) North Wales, (b) the Northern Powerhouse region and (c) the UK.
Answered by Greg Hands
New nuclear projects can deliver significant local, regional, and national economic benefits, including high-skilled employment, to the UK. Government would expect to see similar levels of economic impacts to those at Hinkley in the regions where future power stations might be built.
The construction of Hinkley Point C has to-date seen EDF spend £3.5 billion in the south-west, and it is estimated that a large-scale nuclear plant would support around 10,000 jobs at peak of construction.
The Government has set out a new £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund towards the development of nuclear projects. More details of the Fund and how it will operate will be released in due course.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to secure the development of the Wylfa nuclear site on a sustainable basis, in the context of the withdrawal of interest from Hitachi.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government is aware of the strong interest and support in North Wales for the development of this site and continues to discuss new projects with other viable companies and investors wishing to develop sites including Wylfa Newydd.
The Government has also set out a new £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund towards the development of nuclear projects. There remain a number of optimal sites for new nuclear, including the Wylfa Newydd.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that future participants in the UK’s nuclear energy sector do not pose a threat to national security.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government takes nuclear security extremely seriously. All civil nuclear operators must comply with the UK’s world-leading nuclear security regulatory regime, overseen by a robust and independent regulator - the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
Furthermore, all investment involving critical infrastructure is subject to thorough scrutiny and needs to satisfy our robust legal, regulatory and national security requirements. The National Security & Investment Act gives the Government powers to scrutinise and intervene in acquisitions that may pose national security risks.