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 for new nuclear development at Dounreay to increase civil nuclear employment in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Great British Energy - Nuclear’s study of Scotland's potential for new nuclear, published on 30 June, indicates that Scotland has land areas with high potential for new nuclear development in the future. The study identified technical potential in the area around Dounreay.

New nuclear projects can deliver billions of pounds of investment and thousands of high-quality jobs to a region. UK Ministers remain open to discussions with the Scottish Government on deploying new nuclear technologies in Scotland.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to the Nuclear Industry Association’s 2026 Jobs Map, what assessment he has made of the impact of no new nuclear development in Scotland on civil nuclear employment.

Answered by Melanie Ward - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

The civil nuclear sector is vital to our energy security and economy, providing skilled, well-paid jobs around the country. According to the Nuclear Industry Association’s 2026 Jobs Map, the UK’s civil nuclear workforce has reached over 100,000, with England creating 47,000 new nuclear jobs since 2014 - a 95% increase. In contrast, Scotland added just 660 jobs over the same period, representing an increase of only 13%.

The Scottish Government’s continued opposition and policy ban on new nuclear development prevents Scotland from accessing the same growth, resulting in an estimated 5,000 potential jobs never realised. Furthermore, with Torness Nuclear Power Station scheduled to end generation in 2030, Scotland risks losing hundreds more skilled civil nuclear roles.

The UK Government remains committed to supporting the nuclear sector, and urges the Scottish Government to rethink its opposition so that workers and communities across Scotland can benefit from high-quality, long-term employment opportunities.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on supporting people employed in Scotland’s civil nuclear sector.

Answered by Melanie Ward - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Nuclear energy plays a vital role in providing clean, reliable power and supporting many skilled jobs in Scotland. However, the Scottish Government’s opposition to new nuclear power stations restricts further civil nuclear development within Scotland.

Despite these constraints, Scotland’s experienced nuclear workforce and supply chains remain well-placed to benefit from the UK Government’s ambitious civil nuclear expansion across the wider UK, including ongoing decommissioning work and Small Modular Reactor projects.

UK Government Ministers engage regularly with Scottish Government counterparts on a wide range of issues and we remain committed to supporting the nuclear sector. The UK Government urges the Scottish Government to rethink its opposition so that workers and communities across Scotland can benefit from high-quality, long-term employment opportunities.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on tackling climate change in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)

Climate change policy is devolved. However, Northern Ireland has the potential to be at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy industry. I recently visited CATAGEN, a company in Belfast developing cutting-edge Clean Aviation Fuel technology which they are selling to the global market, and I was deeply impressed with the level of innovation.

This innovation will drive sustainable economic growth in Northern Ireland and across our country, while tackling our climate change goals.

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Donna Cuthbertson and the BBC Scotland Make A Difference Awards

US sanctions on Cuba

Found: Connectivity in Scotland: Digital Connectivity Seamus Logan MP, John Lamont MP, Jamie Stone MP, John

Found: inquiries requested by retired MSP Rhoda Grant 27.2.24 in-house debate and the request from MP Jamie Stone