Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to restricting the contracts and investment for small nuclear modular reactors to UK-based companies, with the majority of component parts to be produced in the UK.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Following a robust, two-year procurement process, Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has selected Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to build the UK’s first small modular reactors, subject to final government approvals and contract signature.
Further details will follow in due course, but the government's long-term ambition is to bring forward one of Europe's first SMR fleets, with GBE-N's ambition being to deliver over 70% UK content across the fleet, which could benefit communities right across the country.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to align the work of the Office for Clean Energy Jobs with the work of Skills England, and what processes and structural framework they expect to be put in place to facilitate joint working between the two.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
The Office for Clean Energy Jobs was established to help ensure a skilled workforce is in place to deliver the Clean Energy Superpower Mission and that these jobs are ‘good’ jobs. The Office for Clean Energy Jobs and Skills England are already working together to develop a consistent understanding of the skills challenges through sharing data and insights, ensuring alignment on priority occupations, coordinating engagement with external stakeholders, and developing solutions, as highlighted in Skills England's report published in September 2024. This partnership will continue to strengthen next year to ensure effective workforce planning supports delivery of the energy transition.