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 merits of allowing companies that meet safety and design criteria for small modular reactors to build those without entering the Great British Nuclear competition for the design of small modular reactors.

GBN is expected to work with the nuclear industry to help achieve our stated ambitions for the sector, including through de-risking early development.

The first priority for GBN is to launch a competitive process to select the best SMR technologies. This will commence in April with market engagement as the first phase. The second phase – the down-selection process - will be launched in the summer, with an ambition to assess and decide on the leading technologies by autumn. This is expected to attract the best designs from both domestic and international vendors.