Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department received requests from third parties to examine the possibility of life extensions for (a) Hinkley Point B and (b) Heysham I and Hartlepool.

Whilst there has been parliamentary and public interest in the potential for life extensions, the Department has no formal role in these decisions so has not received any formal requests. The continued operation of any UK nuclear power station is a decision for EDF (the stations’ owner and operator) and the independent nuclear regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), based on safety and commercial considerations. The Department is in regular communication with EDF and the ONR. Security of electricity supply is secured through the Capacity Market which provides capacity with the right incentives to deliver when needed.