(Folkestone and Hythe)
(Con):...It is particularly exciting to see British firms such as
Rolls-Royce
leading the development and design of new small modular
technologies...
...I am sure the Minister will speak for himself on that
particular point, but that is not a characterisation I would
share. What the competition and Great British Nuclear are doing
is giving a very strong signal to businesses such as Rolls-Royce not
only that this is a sound technology to invest in, but that there
is potentially a very robust market for it in the UK. That is
what I would like to see and why I said earlier that when these
technologies are considered we need to think about the broader
impact on UK manufacturing and jobs that supporting and backing
these technologies would bring, not just the manufacture of
modular reactors and electricity.
I have met Rolls-Royce and
seen its SMR plans and designs. They are incredibly exciting. As
the right hon. Gentleman says, this is technology that has been
developed for the Royal Navy, and its applications for civil
nuclear are very exciting indeed. I hope that it is very
successful with it. I would certainly be very happy to see
a Rolls-Royce SMR
in my constituency at Dungeness.
Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con): I do support the
introduction of small modular reactors, but I hope the House
would not want Rolls-Royce to
be given preferential treatment by the Office for Nuclear
Regulation in its generic design assessment, because we need to
ensure that it is safe. Does my hon. Friend agree that while
Sizewell C is now getting under way, it is important that the
contractors do honour what they say they will do, such as
sourcing the water and ensuring that skills and jobs are
happening locally, in order to give people confidence? We know
how long these projects have taken to get off the ground.
: I agree with my right hon.
Friend, particularly on her point about the labour markets, and
in the Sizewell area that is incredibly important. I know from
Dungeness in my constituency that it is the certainty of having
long-term employment that attracts some of the best talent and
encourages people, including apprentices, to join the industry.
The Minister will probably want to comment on the substance of my
right hon. Friend’s remarks.
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
(SNP):...Of the designs that the Office for Nuclear Regulation is
considering, the only one to have reached stage 2 is
the Rolls-Royce
proposal, with the ONR’s stage 2 assessments due to conclude in
July 2024. Stage 3 timescales are still to be confirmed, so the
reality is that SMRs are just a glint in the UK’s eye at the
moment. There is no understanding or certainty on timescales,
even if SMRs do come to fruition...
(Mole Valley) (Con):...We
had a positive response to small modular reactors in the case of
We had a positive response to small modular reactors in the case
of Rolls-Royce and
TerraPower, but we do not seem to be getting stuck in with and
behind advanced modular reactors, as has already been
mentione and TerraPower, but we do not seem to be getting
stuck in with and behind advanced modular reactors, as has
already been mentioned..
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