Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to put revenue support mechanisms in place to support the development of advanced modular reactors.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is providing a pathway for privately-led advanced nuclear projects. Great British Energy - Nuclear has been tasked with assessing proposals within a new framework, to be published shortly, with the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero exploring revenue support for viable projects.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government why they have decided to dispose of 140 tonnes of civil plutonium stored at Sellafield instead of repurposing it for new energy generation.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer my noble Friend to the answer given by my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 8th May 2025 to Question HL6800.
The Government took the decision to immobilise the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory based on strategic, economic, technical and safety and security considerations. Immobilisation will put the material into a form which both reduces the long-term safety and security burden during storage and ensures it is suitable for disposal in a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). Implementing a long-term solution for plutonium is essential to dealing with the UK’s nuclear legacy and leaving the environment safer for future generations. Furthermore, all current and planned UK reactors use uranium-based fuels.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to fund advanced nuclear technologies through the generic design assessment process.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The costs of nuclear regulatory services, like Generic Design Assessment, are charged to companies in regulation. The Government part-funded 3 companies to undertake GDA for their Small Modular Reactor designs through the Low-Cost Nuclear Challenge and Future Nuclear Enabling Fund grant schemes. These are Rolls-Royce SMR, GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Holtec Britain Ltd.
Looking forward, the government is providing a pathway for privately-led advanced nuclear projects. Great British Energy - Nuclear has been tasked with assessing proposals within a new framework, to be published shortly, with the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero exploring revenue support for viable projects.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of international best practice cases for funding advanced modular reactor development.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government actively monitors advanced nuclear developments in other countries for international best practice that could support the government’s missions.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to work with the Welsh Government to redevelop and refurbish Cardiff Central Railway Station.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Officials from both governments continue to work collaboratively on the Cardiff Central station improvement project, alongside partners from Transport for Wales and Network Rail, and overseen by Wales Rail Board.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure long-term funding for programmes to support NHS staff with their (1) mental and (2) physical health.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is important that all National Health Service staff are able to work in a supportive and inclusive environment that prioritises their health and wellbeing.
Employers across the NHS have their own arrangements in place for supporting their staff, including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and health and wellbeing guardians, who scrutinise and co-ordinate local support.
At a national level, NHS England commissions the NHS Practitioner Health programme, which provides specialist support, and which is reviewing the wider provision of support for staff mental and physical health and wellbeing.
To support staff with their physical health, the Government and Nuffield Health announced, in March 2025, access for 4,000 NHS staff to Nuffield Health’s Joint Pain Programme, to support those staff who are either off work due to chronic joint pain or struggling with pain whilst at work.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to minimise the risk of burnout among healthcare staff.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The health and wellbeing of National Health Service staff is a top priority. Employers across the NHS have their own arrangements in place for supporting their staff, including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and health and wellbeing guardian roles.
At a national level, NHS England has made additional support available. This includes a focus on healthy environments, tools, and resources to support line managers, and emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support. They have also set out a roadmap for the NHS and partner organisations to work together to develop and invest in occupational health and wellbeing services for NHS staff over the next five years.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NHS officials in England about improving (1) the catering; and (2) the rest facilities for NHS staff in hospital settings.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Through the Report of the Independent Review of NHS Hospital Food, officials have had, and continue to have, discussions in relation to improving catering and rest facilities for National Health Service staff in NHS hospital settings.
The NHS Food and Drink Standards contain detailed information for catering managers about sourcing and serving high quality, nutritious food to patients and staff. This includes a checklist for catering managers and chief executives to consider as part of their trust’s Food and Drink Strategy.
Good physical working environments are also important for staff wellbeing and retention. Staff need to be given the time and space to rest and recover from their work, particularly when working on-call or overnight. The NHS Health and Wellbeing Framework highlights the importance of getting the basics right, such as providing access to good quality rest areas, food, and drink options.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Civil Procedure Rule Committee regarding the implementation of fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence claims valued up to £25,000.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Currently, the Government is considering the way forward on a wide range of matters relating to clinical negligence reform, and we will announce our position in due course.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Penybont (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to reforming the loss of future earnings element of clinical negligence compensation for cases arising from obstetrics.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that clinical negligence is an important issue, and ministers will examine the drivers of costs, how to manage spending on clinical negligence, and the potential merits of reform options.