Radioisotopes

(asked on 22nd March 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of developing a nuclear material test reactor in the UK on the domestic supply of medical isotopes.


Answered by
Andrew Bowie Portrait
Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This question was answered on 27th March 2023

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero recognises the importance of maintaining future access to medical radionuclides for UK patients.

No specific assessment has been made on the potential impact of developing a nuclear material test reactor in the UK on the domestic supply of medical isotopes. The Department is, however, delivering the up to £6 million Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme which aims to identify technology and policy options that could secure access to radionuclides for nuclear medicine services. The programme will consider the development of a domestic research reactor as a potential option.

Officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department of Health and Social Care continue to meet regularly with their counterparts in the Devolved Governments to discuss medical radionuclide supply, most recently on the 9 March 2023.

The Department will continue to work with Welsh Government as their proposal for a medical isotope centre in North Wales progresses.

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