Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Clarkson Excerpts

Tuesday 16th April 2024 Commons Chamber

[Amanda Solloway]

It is important to note that we are taking this matter incredibly seriously. We are also providing funding to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions through the energy company obligation, the home upgrade grant and the social housing decarbonisation fund.

[Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Middleton) (Con)]

9. What steps she is taking to increase nuclear energy capacity.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Andrew Bowie)]

The historic nuclear road map that I announced in January reconfirmed the Government’s ambition to deploy up to 24 GW of nuclear power by 2050. The road map sets out plans to make investment decisions concerning 3 GW to 7 GW every five years between 2030 and 2040.

[Chris Clarkson]

Nuclear is essential not just for our economy but for our national security. A truly sovereign supply does not just mean commissioning new reactors but increasing our skills base, so I welcome the £750 million invested in that. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that people in communities such as Heywood and Middleton can access that skills funding, so they can take advantage of high-skilled, well-paid jobs in the sector?