Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on easing planning rules for SMR reactors.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
A new nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) is being developed which will provide updated planning guidance and set out any specific assessment criteria for the siting of new nuclear power stations, including Small Modular Reactors (SMR).
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's publication entitled DSIT annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024, published on 12 September 2024, whether his Department plans to use the £599 million underspend.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As set out in guidance underspends cannot be automatically carried forward into the following financial year.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on easing planning rules for data centres.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Secretary of State has regular formal and informal conversations with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues. I welcome the proposed changes to planning policy that would facilitate growth in UK data centre capacity and subsequent growth in the digital economy.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many diversity, equality and inclusion officers his Department employed in August 2024.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In August 2024, DSIT employed two members of staff whose entire role was dedicated to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and two members of staff for whom it constituted 50% of their role. This is a reduction from the previous month, where the team was temporarily larger to allow a handover due to personnel changes. There has been no change in staffing numbers since August.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to support extravehicular activity on UK private space flight missions.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
There are currently no plans to provide government support for extravehicular activities on private spaceflight missions.
The UK Space Agency has been working with Axiom Space to explore the potential for a UK-led, commercially funded mission to the International Space Station to carry out science and technology demonstrations. Any extravehicular activities during the mission would be focused on functional maintenance and would be carried out by professional astronauts.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of small modular reactors.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs. The Department has provided funding of up to £210m to support the development of the Rolls Royce SMR design. The Future Nuclear Enabling Fund is currently awarding grants of up to £67m to support advanced nuclear designs through UK regulation, including SMRs.
Separately, Great British Nuclear is continuing to deliver the live SMR Technology Selection Process for UK deployment.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of nuclear reactors which make use of re-processed fuels.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The decision of whether or when to reprocess spent fuel is a matter for the owner of the spent fuel. Whilst industrial scale reprocessing of spent fuels in the UK has ended, the value of the UK’s nuclear fuel cycle knowledge and skills base is recognised, both in managing the UK’s nuclear legacy and in supporting future capabilities and research programmes. The UK Government continues to provide support through investments in research facilities and programmes.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with newcleo Ltd in the last three months.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology published a Position Paper (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-position-on-eus-research-and-innovation-framework-programme) outlining the Government's views on FP10 on 26 September 2024.
As set out in the paper, the Government recognises the importance of collaboration with European counterparts on research and innovation. To that end, the Secretary of State wrote to the European Research Commissioner to confirm the paper’s publication and our desire to engage with the EU on the development of FP10. In addition, Minister Vallance has met with the Commissioner and spoken with Manuel Heitor (chair of the expert group for Horizon Europe and FP10). The DSIT CSA was also in Brussels earlier this week discussing FP10 with counterparts. The Government is keen to continue working with the EU, Member States and third countries to ensure FP10 can best address pressing global problems and directly improve people’s lives.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the selection process was for members of his Department’s Digital Government panel.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Digital Centre Design Advisory Panel has been established to advise, test ideas and constructively challenge our thinking as we develop the new digital centre of government.
DSIT selected individuals who bring a diverse set of views and experience from across the UK tech sector, academics, digital government, regional growth and international voices, including co-chairs Martha Lane Fox and Paul Willmott.