Nuclear: Small Modular Reactors
Debate between Lord Hunt of Kings Heath and Lord Krebs(2 weeks, 6 days ago)
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Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)
My Lords, we inherited the regulatory and planning infrastructure that the last Government left. Indeed, we have set up a time-limited task force to look at regulation to see how, in the experience of Hinkley Point C, we can find ways, without comprising safety, to speed up the regulatory process. We have the Planning and Infrastructure Bill coming to your Lordships’ House very shortly; I look forward to the support of the Opposition in taking it through.
As for what SMR companies are saying, I have had the opportunity of meeting very many companies that wish to develop SMRs. I have been to a number of international fora. The UK’s position, which, after all, the noble Earl’s party set up—the Great British Nuclear exercise that we are currently going through—is of considerable interest. We are going through a transparent and robust process. I believe that we will have decisions very soon and that they will set this country on a very good pathway on small modular reactors.
Lord Krebs (CB)
My Lords, can the Minister give us an assessment of the availability of the relevant skills for building SMRs? If there is going to be a skills shortage, what training programme do the Government intend to put in place?
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)
My Lords, that is a very important point. We have a national strategic skills task force, and a plan. We reckon that we already need 40,000 extra people in the industry between now and 2030. We will need many more with the SMR programme. We are working very hard with the industry. I believe the kind of jobs it offers—well paid, in a stable and exciting environment—will bring people in, but we stand ready to support industry in that regard.
Climate Change: Progress
Debate between Lord Hunt of Kings Heath and Lord Krebs(1 month ago)
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Lord Krebs
To ask His Majesty’s Government, following the publication on 30 April of the report by the Climate Change Committee Progress in adapting to climate change: 2025 report to Parliament, what plans they have to increase efforts to adapt the United Kingdom to the effects of climate change.
The Minister of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath) (Lab)
My Lords, the Government are committed to strengthening the nation’s resilience to climate change. We welcome the Climate Change Committee’s latest report and are carefully considering its recommendations. We will respond formally in October, as required by the Climate Change Act. In the meantime, we are working to strengthen our objectives on climate adaptation and to improve the framework that supports departments and communities in managing the impacts of a changing climate.
Lord Krebs (CB)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer. The report from the Climate Change Committee points out that there has been no progress in adaptation to climate change since the previous report. During the eight years that I chaired the adaptation sub-committee, we said exactly the same thing. As Yogi Berra would have said, “It’s déjà vu all over again”. The report also says that the Government have no specific measurable targets or objectives for adapting to climate change. I will ask the Minister about just one area. The report estimates that by 2050, approximately one in four properties in this country could be at risk of flooding if there were no adaptation to climate change. My question is: is this an acceptable level of risk? If not, what level of risk do the Government think is acceptable?
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)
My Lords, first, on the substantive point that the noble Lord makes about progress, he will know that we are not yet halfway through the national adaptation programme 3. Therefore, the response to the Climate Change Committee, which is due by October, will very much reflect the work in progress in terms of what we need to do to beef up the current plan and implementation and to look forward to the NAP4, which starts in 2028. We are not complacent; we take the committee’s report very seriously, and I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Brown, and her committee for the work they have done. On the noble Lord’s substantive point on the issue of objectives, I very much accept that that is one of the matters we will be considering over the next few months. Secondly, on flooding, of course the report of the committee and the prediction it has made about the 8 million properties that are at risk of flooding by 2050 is something that no Government could take complacently. He will know that we have already committed £2.65 billion to repair or build flood defences, and of course we will look further into this matter in light of the committee’s report.