Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Review

Lord Watts Excerpts

Thursday 27th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

I could not agree more about the urgency. We have a very big task, both with disposal of existing stores and with getting new nuclear moving. I had a meeting just yesterday discussing the geological disposal facility, what the options are and what is required in order to progress that. There is a very big challenge in making sure that we get this right. It is not going to happen quickly. The storage problem is one that is going to take a very long time to get right.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for updating the House on what the Labour Government have done since they were elected. Does he know what was happening for the last 13 years under the previous Administration? They are good at criticising what we are doing but ignore the 13 years they were in power.

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

As I have said, as a country we have been neglectful of nuclear for far too long. We had a leading position in the world, which we lost through inaction, and that has been the case for a very long time. I think now is the moment to make sure that we redress that. The small modular reactors and the Rolls Royce involvement present a domestic position to be able to have facilities not only in the UK but also for export. There has been a long period of neglect, and I think it is very important that we—and we will—treat this with great urgency now, because it is going to be a very important part of the energy mix going forward.