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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, and with whom, about the economic impact of the permanent closure of Hunterston B nuclear power station; and what steps they intend to take to ensure an economic investment package is put in place in view of job losses and the wider economic impact of that closure.

EDF Energy recently announced that Hunterston B would close no later than January 2022. EDF Energy, as owner and operator of the power station, is responsible for the management of the closure, in consultation with the nuclear regulator, including any related employment matters arising from closure and during the subsequent station decommissioning.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is working with EDF Energy and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to consider how efficient and cost-effective decommissioning of EDF Energy-owned nuclear power stations can be planned for and delivered in the future. This work does not affect the closure of the stations.