Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Neil Carmichael Excerpts
Wednesday 16th January 2013

(11 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Neil Carmichael Portrait Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)
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7. What assessment he has made of the availability of skills in the nuclear power industry in Wales.

David Jones Portrait The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones)
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Hitachi’s investment at Wylfa will help to ensure that our nuclear work force remain highly skilled and some of the best in the industry. Talented young apprentices on Anglesey can look forward to an excellent future at Wylfa.

Neil Carmichael Portrait Neil Carmichael
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Locally in Gloucestershire, as well as through the national training academy for nuclear, we are working hard to ensure that we have sufficient skills—and retain those skills—ready for nuclear new build. What measures will the Secretary of State be proposing to ensure that Wales, too, benefits from the ability to improve that capacity?

David Jones Portrait Mr Jones
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My hon. Friend is right: the development of nuclear skills is key. The Government have created the Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance to co-ordinate the work of all the expert skills bodies relating to nuclear. The Welsh Assembly Government are also represented on that alliance.