Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Review

Baroness Coffey Excerpts

Thursday 27th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[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.

[Baroness Coffey (Con)]

My Lords, it is sad that the Minister is trying to bring party politics into this. I live near nuclear power stations. From 1997 to 2010, Labour did not do a single thing about nuclear. From 2010, our coalition partners were not enthusiastic, but we got it going and we did things about the financing. It is really important that we try to think strategically. However, my question to the Minister is because I am concerned by one of the recommendations that, all of a sudden, it will be the Chancellor who will in effect try to encourage the regulators to consider what might be proportional. I am really worried about this, because the ONR was under the steerage of the Department for Work and Pensions, and not energy, deliberately to make sure that safety not only for workers but for local residents was paramount. Can the Minister give me an assurance that that safety focus will continue for local residents?

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

On the noble Baroness’s first point, I have been clear that there has been a long-standing neglect of nuclear. That has been across multiple Governments, and we should recognise that. The strategic steer to regulators was issued by the Prime Minister yesterday, so that is clear. It is important that regulators understand the desire of government to see this moving.