Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
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 potential levels of (a) employment opportunities and (b) supply chain investment generated in the South West from the construction of Hinkley Point C.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
EDF’s Hinkley Point C Socio-economic Impact Report 2025 [1] states that the project has supported 26,000 direct and indirect jobs across Britain, with around 4,500 people from Somerset working at Hinkley Point C. Further, the Report states 64% of the value of the project is going to British businesses with over £5 billion already being spent with suppliers across the South- West region.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Nuclear Industry Association's webpage entitled NIA Jobs Map 2025, what assessment she has made of trends in the number of civil nuclear jobs in Ynys Môn constituency since 2015.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
New nuclear projects are expected to create thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK, with the industry-led 2024 Nuclear Workforce Assessment estimating the need for an additional 24,000 employees across civil and defence by the early 2030s.1 The Department is working with the Nuclear Industry Association as part of the Nuclear Skills Plan, a collaborative effort between government, industry and academia to address the sector’s workforce needs.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on securing a new nuclear project at Wylfa.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
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 implications for his Department’s policies of the report by the Nuclear Industry Association entitled Jobs May 2025, published on 5 December 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
New nuclear projects are expected to create thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK. The annual industry-led 2024 Nuclear Workforce Assessment (NWA), published by Cogent Skills, estimates the civil and defence nuclear sector could grow by an additional 24,000 employees by the early 2030s. The Department is working with the Nuclear Industry Association as part of the Nuclear Skills Plan, a collaborative effort between government, industry and academia to address the sector’s workforce needs.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
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 a new nuclear project at Wylfa on (a) employment and (b) investment benefits in North Wales.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2024, Great British Energy – Nuclear acquired the site at Wylfa in 2024, which has previously hosted a nuclear power plant and has positive attributes for new nuclear.
No decisions have yet been taken on any projects to be deployed at Wylfa. Our plans will be set out in due course.
The government values nuclear energy’s important role in delivering energy security and homegrown clean power while generating investment and supporting thousands of skilled jobs in communities across the country.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of the changes to minimum energy efficiency standards on self-catering accommodation in Wales.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation closed on 2nd May and was accompanied by a consultation-stage options assessment. We have engaged widely with stakeholders during the consultation process and a government response with a further impact assessment will be published in due course.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
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 the number of people employed in the nuclear energy industry in (a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ do not produce their own figures on the number of jobs within the civil nuclear sector. The industry-led Nuclear Workforce Assessment (NWA) (produced annually by Cogent Skills) does contain data on the number of civil nuclear jobs across Wales, England and Scotland but not Northern Ireland. New nuclear projects are expected to create thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK, with the 2024 NWA estimating the need for an additional 24,000 employees by the early 2030s.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made a comparative assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of a nuclear power station at Wylfa and large-scale solar developments on (a) food security, (b) job creation and (c) long-term sustainability in (i) Anglesey, (ii) Wales and (iii) the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the recently published Solar Roadmap, we set out our expectation that the solar industry could support up to 35,000 UK jobs in 2030. No estimates were made for Anglesey or Wales. Our assessment is that solar will not pose a threat to food security, whilst any Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project development will be required to undergo detailed environmental and other statutory impact assessment
A new nuclear project at any location would help create skilled, high-value jobs although no decisions have yet been taken on any nuclear project to be deployed at the Wylfa site.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
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 large solar developers on local communities.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Solar power is at the heart of our clean power mission. It is clean, cheap, and reliable.
All projects are subject to a rigorous planning process, in which the views and interests of local communities are considered.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government plans to appoint a new Minister with responsibility for nuclear energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Yes, in the meantime I am covering nuclear as part of my portfolio. The appointment of Ministers is a matter for my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister.