UK Nuclear Energy Programme Debate

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Christopher Pincher

Main Page: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)

UK Nuclear Energy Programme

Christopher Pincher Excerpts
Monday 21st October 2013

(11 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Christopher Pincher Portrait Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)
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I congratulate my right hon. Friend on putting 6,000 wind turbines under one roof. Given that there are 60 nuclear power stations under construction around the world, and about 150 planned for construction, is he confident that the international supply chain for reactors and turbines—which Labour did nothing about—is sufficiently robust to allow this important project to remain on track?

Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
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I believe it is, and the investors certainly do as well. One of the things that gives me confidence about today’s decision is the high degree of planning that has gone into the project. We will benefit from the fact that the reactor design has already gone through a long period of generic design assessment in the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and that EDF has learned lessons from Finland, France and China. My hon. Friend should therefore not worry that the supply chain will not be capable of meeting the demands. This is all in EDF’s plan.