Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what routes of travel are undertaken to transport nuclear waste within the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There are a number of proven routes to transport nuclear waste.
On the grounds of national security, the Government does not publish information on specific routes taken.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the annual security costs are of nuclear waste transport within the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's policies on those costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not publish the specific security costs of nuclear waste transport on the grounds of national security.
The transportation of nuclear waste materials is long-established and has an excellent safety and security record.
Nuclear waste transports operate within extremely stringent safety and security standards, which are continuously monitored to minimise the risk of any incident.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will hold discussions with the Chief Executive of GB Energy on changes to employment levels in the oil and gas sector in Aberdeen.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department continues to work quickly to set Great British Energy up for success and ensure all British people feel the benefits.
The Office for Clean Energy Jobs has already worked with industry, Scottish Government and unions to launch the ‘Energy Skills Passport’ for offshore Oil and Gas workers, putting clean energy at the heart of our modern industrial strategy.
We are committed to a just transition for industries based in the North Sea. Aberdeen will be at the heart of this transition, supported by initiatives such as the Energy Skills Passport and the Energy Transition Zone.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policy on hydrogen on regional water availability.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are working with environmental regulators in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as DEFRA and National Energy System Operator (NESO) to ensure that the impact of projects on regional water bodies is carefully considered.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the annual cost is of armed protection of (a) nuclear energy, (b) nuclear waste and (c) other nuclear sites; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's policies on those costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Armed protection is provided by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary at our most sensitive nuclear sites and by some Home Office Police forces at less sensitive sites.
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is funded by charges to its service recipients, the site license companies. The costs charged to these for the financial year 2024/25 was:
The security of the UK’s critical national infrastructure is of paramount importance to the Government. The department works with the regulator and industry to respond to changing national security threats.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the routes used to transport nuclear waste within the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's policies on the number of routes used.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Nuclear waste is transported in the UK via road, rail, and sea using specially designed, secure containers that meet stringent international safety standards.
The government takes the security of nuclear material very seriously. Nuclear waste transports operate within extremely stringent safety and security standards, which are continuously monitored to minimise the risk of any incident.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Hydrogen strategy update to the market: December 2024, published on 17 December 2024, when he plans to publish the report on Water Demand for Hydrogen Production.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ has published the Water Demand for Hydrogen Production report, which shows the variation in water demand for hydrogen production based on the production technology, water source and cooling system used.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of long-term storage costs of nuclear waste; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's policies on those costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Nuclear power is central to our ambitions for clean energy and to meet our net zero commitments. It is therefore important that we have in place effective plans to manage the associated wastes that arise from nuclear operations. Approximately 94% of nuclear waste by volume is low in radioactivity and will be disposed of safely in existing facilities. For the remaining more hazardous radioactive waste, the UK Government’s policy is to implement geological disposal. A geological disposal facility is expected to be available for intermediate level waste in c.2050-2060 and c.2075 for high level waste and Spent Fuel. We require interim storage to manage this waste until disposal facilities are available - these interim stores vary depending on the nature of waste they are designed for.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policy on hydrogen on the (a) demand and (b) supply of water.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We require projects to have robust plans in place for sustainable water sourcing, including gaining abstraction licenses from the EA in England and SEPA in Scotland where required, and assess these when support is sought under Hydrogen Allocation Rounds. The Government’s forthcoming Hydrogen Strategy will build on previous work to elaborate on how water supply constraints are being considered in planning for the hydrogen economy.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will publish nuclear infrastructure modelling for nuclear projects in the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department conducts power market modelling using the Dynamic Dispatch Model (DDM). The DDM is a comprehensive fully integrated power market model covering the GB power market over the medium to long term. Analysis published using this model, such as Modelling 2050 – electricity system analysis - GOV.UK, has shown the importance of nuclear to obtaining low-cost low-carbon solutions to future electricity supply. The DDM has also been used to inform value-for-money assessments, such as the final investment decision on Sizewell C. Sizewell C: Value for money assessment - GOV.UK.