Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to sustain the number of nuclear suitably qualified and experienced engineers and scientists and develop the UK’s next generation of nuclear propulsion experts.

The Ministry of Defence is a member of the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG) which brings together partners from both the defence and civil nuclear sectors. As per the December 2016 NSSG Strategic Plan, provision of suitably qualified and experienced nuclear propulsion personnel is a key consideration of the NSSG. As part of the UK Industrial Strategy, one of the main proposals of the Nuclear Sector Deal is around skills and training.