Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of implementing the recommendations of the Nuclear Regulatory Review on future civil nuclear employment in the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is taking forward all recommendations from the Nuclear Regulatory Review and published its Implementation Plan in March 2026. These regulatory reforms aim to streamline the delivery of new nuclear projects, provide industry with greater certainty to invest in the skills and workforce needed, and support the sector’s growth and its contribution to creating of well-paid, high-skilled jobs across the UK.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans she has for the deployment of small modular reactors beyond the Gwyndod project; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that deployment on civil nuclear employment.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government is delivering a golden age of nuclear, which will support thousands of skilled jobs across the economy.
Great British Energy – Nuclear is driving forward the government’s small modular reactor (SMR) programme. It has entered into contract with Rolls-Royce SMR (RR SMR) to progress the design of the Gwyndod project, which will comprise three RR SMR units and seeks to generate around 1.4GW of electricity from the mid-2030s.
Gwyndod represents the most significant industrial investment in North Wales for a generation, supporting up to 3,000 skilled jobs on site at peak construction and thousands more across the supply chain.
The government’s long-term ambition is to bring forward one of Europe’s first SMR fleets.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether a decision on the Jackdaw field was scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, 15th September 2026.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Jackdaw field decision is currently going through the regulatory process. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will make a decision in due course on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent by the North Sea Transition Authority. There is no fixed timeline for an announcement, and it is imperative that all material is properly considered so that a robust decision can be taken. Given the quasi-judicial nature of the regulatory process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the project.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what considerations formed part of discussions relating to the timing of an announcement regarding the Jackdaw field.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Jackdaw field decision is currently going through the regulatory process. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will make a decision in due course on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent by the North Sea Transition Authority. There is no fixed timeline for an announcement, and it is imperative that all material is properly considered so that a robust decision can be taken. Given the quasi-judicial nature of the regulatory process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the project.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether a date has been provisionally scheduled for the announcement of the decision on the Jackdaw field.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Jackdaw field decision is currently going through the regulatory process. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will make a decision in due course on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent by the North Sea Transition Authority. There is no fixed timeline for an announcement, and it is imperative that all material is properly considered so that a robust decision can be taken. Given the quasi-judicial nature of the regulatory process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the project.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department’s latest estimate is of the completion date of the Norwich to Tilbury transmission upgrade.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Transmission Owners are responsible for delivering transmission projects and are regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem monitors delivery against agreed regulatory delivery dates and holds Transmission Owners accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades. The licence delivery date for Norwich to Tilbury is 31/12/2031. Government is taking actions to accelerate the build out of electricity network infrastructure, through reforms to planning, regulation, strategic network planning, unlocking supply chains and taking a strategic approach to workforce and skills.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department’s latest estimate is of the total capital cost of the transmission network upgrades required to deliver Clean Power 2030.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem estimates that transmission owners will invest up to around £70 billion in Great Britain's electricity transmission network between 2025-26 and 2030-31. The majority of this spend remains subject to further in-period approval.
As well as supporting delivery of Clean Power 2030, this will accommodate growing electricity demand and reduce network constraints resulting from generation build having historically outpaced network build. Some expenditure also reflects essential asset replacement and maintenance.
Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators. Cost estimates for individual projects are developed and maintained by the relevant transmission owners and are subject to regulatory scrutiny by Ofgem. Transmission owners are only permitted to recover costs that Ofgem determines are efficiently incurred.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department’s latest estimate is of the completion date of Eastern Green Link 2.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Transmission Owners are responsible for delivering transmission projects and are regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem monitors delivery against agreed regulatory delivery dates and holds Transmission Owners accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades. The licence delivery date for Eastern Green Link 2 is 31/12/2030. Government is taking action to accelerate the build out of electricity network infrastructure, through reforms to planning, regulation, strategic network planning, unlocking supply chains and taking a strategic approach to workforce and skills.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department’s latest estimate is of the completion date of the Yorkshire GREEN project.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Transmission Owners are responsible for delivering transmission projects and are regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem monitors delivery against agreed regulatory delivery dates and holds Transmission Owners accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades. The licence delivery date for Yorkshire Green is 31/12/2028. Government is taking action to accelerate the build out of electricity network infrastructure, through reforms to planning, regulation, strategic network planning, unlocking supply chains and taking a strategic approach to workforce and skills.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with the National Energy System Operator on the deliverability of Clean Power 2030 since taking office.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State speaks to the National Energy System Operator on a regular basis on a range of topics.