Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Menzies Excerpts

Wednesday 24th February 2021 Commons Chamber

The President of COP26 was asked—

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to help ensure that climate action contributes to the post covid-19 economic recovery.

[Mrs Flick Drummond (Meon Valley) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to help ensure that climate action contributes to the post covid-19 economic recovery.

--- Later in debate ---

[The President of COP26 (Alok Sharma)]

We are determined to build back better and greener as we recover from covid-19. The Prime Minister’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution sets out the Government’s blueprint to grow the sunrise sector, support 250,000 green jobs and level up across the country.

[Mark Menzies [V]]

The north-west, as you are well aware, Mr Speaker, is the heart of the UK nuclear industry, including Westinghouse nuclear fuels in my constituency. With the world increasingly focused on utilising low carbon energy sources, what steps is my right hon. Friend the President taking ahead of COP26 to promote UK-based nuclear energy production satisfying our future energy needs and supporting countless high-skilled jobs across the north-west?

[Alok Sharma]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Nuclear power clearly has a part to play in our clean energy mix, and he will know that in the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan we have committed to backing large-scale nuclear advanced modular reactors and small modular reactors—AMRs and SMRs. Of course, the sites such as the ones in my hon. Friend’s constituency are vital in terms of creating jobs and investment in the north-west.