Nuclear Power Stations: Cumbria and North Wales

(asked on 18th February 2019) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to support North West Nuclear Arc innovation partnerships in enabling the next phase of nuclear generation development in (a) Cumbria and (b) North Wales.


This question was answered on 26th February 2019

Last year, the North West Nuclear Arc completed a Science and Innovation Audit (SIA), a BEIS sponsored project, that mapped the strengths and opportunities in their area. This will be published, with the other eleven Wave 3 SIAs, by BEIS in due course.

Proposals for a £30 million national and regional nuclear supply chain and productivity improvement programme, developed with participation from Local Enterprise Partnerships in the North-West in conjunction with other parties, are currently being considered by BEIS as part of the commitments within the Nuclear Sector Deal.

The £180m Nuclear Innovation Programme which is part of the 2016-21, £505m BEIS Energy Innovation Programme is part of the Nuclear Sector Deal. The Programme covers the whole of the UK Nuclear Research and Development community in order to develop and promote innovation and future growth in the nuclear sector in the UK in conjunction with the Nuclear Sector Deal.

The Government welcomes the initiative of nuclear businesses, supply chain clusters, universities and innovators across Cumbria, the wider North West, and North Wales to work together through the North West Nuclear Arc.

We believe our policies through the Nuclear Sector Deal and Nuclear Innovation Programme will support the North West Nuclear Arc to capitalise on the regions historic strengths in the nuclear sector.

It was this Government that agreed a landmark Nuclear Sector Deal worth over £200m, as well as giving the go-ahead to Hinkley Point C, the first new nuclear power station in a generation.

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