Oral Answers to Questions

Karl McCartney Excerpts

Tuesday 27th February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Trudy Harrison (Copeland) (Con)]

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

[Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)]

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

[Siobhan Baillie (Stroud) (Con)]

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

--- Later in debate ---

[Andrew Bowie]

I can confirm that Moorside is indeed a candidate for new nuclear, and it is one of a number of potential sites for hosting civil nuclear projects. Great British Nuclear is currently running a competitive process to select those small modular reactor technologies best able to facilitate operational projects in the 2030s. That said, the project needs to run its course, and I know my hon. Friend will understand that no decision on sites has yet been made.

[Karl MᶜCartney]

The UK’s first nuclear fusion power plant is due to be built a short 45-minute drive from Lincoln. It will increase energy generation and hopefully limit the amount of agricultural land being used to house solar farms. Will my hon. Friend update the House on the role that institutions such as the University of Lincoln will have in providing research and training for these types of power plants and their associated advanced jobs of the future?

[Andrew Bowie]

It is indeed a very exciting time for fusion in this country. Our Fusion Futures programme will provide up to £55 million over five years to train more than 2,200 people, helping meet the demands of our growing fusion sector. That will expand our existing fusion training programmes through work with universities such as the University of Lincoln, colleges and employers, and provide a pipeline of highly skilled scientists, engineers and technicians at all career levels, from apprentice to post-doctoral fellow.