Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Fletcher Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd May 2023 Commons Chamber

[James Grundy (Leigh) (Con)]

6. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of developing nuclear fusion technology to provide energy.

[Mark Fletcher (Bolsover) (Con)]

10. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of developing nuclear fusion technology to provide energy.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

14. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of developing nuclear fusion technology to provide energy.

--- Later in debate ---

[Grant Shapps]

Yes, absolutely. Fusion technology could be fantastic for the north-west and part of a big jobs boost. The UK Atomic Energy Authority believes that around 4,500 suppliers will be involved in that, and many of them will be in the north-west.

[Mark Fletcher]

With the West Burton spherical tokamak for energy production plan, we have the opportunity to further solidify the east midlands as the home of the UK nuclear sector. What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of the economic benefits to the east midlands of that plant?

[Grant Shapps]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and the importance of that plant to the east midlands could be tremendous. The spherical tokamak for energy production—STEP—programme could support a large number of jobs. When I launched “Powering up Britain” with the Prime Minister at Culham, we stood next to the tokamak—the hottest place in the solar system. Some might think that that would be the sun, but it is 10 times hotter than the sun. To put that in context, that would be more than all the hot air from the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband) in an entire year.