Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the UK's nuclear energy capacity on delivering the AI Opportunities Action Plan, (b) the costs of regulatory processes on building new nuclear and (c) existing plants being decommissioned without replacement on AI.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, AI datacentres are a potential new consumer of nuclear power. We see the potential benefits of nuclear-powered datacentres and are considering how to unlock this potential.

Regulatory processes involve multiple steps to demonstrate the nuclear power plant will be safe, secure and can manage its waste, non-proliferation, and environmental obligations. There are multiple variables that drive timelines and costs.

The Department undertakes regular modelling on future energy scenarios, including on demand changes driven by new technology and plans for generating assets. This forms part of the considerations on the wider AI sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a similar scheme to the Small Business Investment Company in the USA.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is committed to supporting small businesses, recognising their vital role in driving economic growth and innovation. The government continually reviews its support for small businesses to ensure it remains effective and responsive to their needs.

The government will publish its Small Business Strategy in 2025 after the Phase 2 Spending Review. This will set out the government’s vision for supporting small businesses, from boosting scale-ups to growing the co-operative economy and across key policy areas.

The government already has schemes in place that deliver outcomes similar to the US’s SBIC scheme: providing finance to small businesses.

Currently, the UK offers a range of support mechanisms for small businesses, including the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme which provide tax reliefs to investors who make new equity investments in high risk, early stage Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), in order to help them grow and develop.

Additionally, the British Business Bank plays a crucial role in improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through various programmes, helping them to grow and succeed. These include programmes which provide funding to professional equity and debt fund managers, as well as guarantees to enable high street lenders provide additional finance to SMEs.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of levels of demand for new housing in different areas of the UK; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of new homes on the economy of the different regions.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In December 2024, the government implemented a new standard method for assessing local housing needs. This method aligns with the government’s ambition for 1.5 million new homes over this parliament, and better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable. Indicative housing figures for each local authority and region in England are published on gov.uk.

Investment in housing and infrastructure today drives future productivity growth and higher living standards, making these areas pivotal to the success of the Growth Mission. This government is committed to kickstarting economic growth and getting Britain building.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24615 on Housing: Carbon Emissions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned amendments to building regulations on the economy.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. It set out proposals for improving the energy efficiency of new homes and buildings. An impact assessment was published concurrently, which included an assessment of the economic impact of the proposals, and the consultation invited consultees to offer their views on this assessment.

We are carefully considering the feedback received. We intend to introduce new energy efficiency standards later this year and will publish an updated impact assessment at that time.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to strengthen the UK’s place within the international F-35 Lightning II supply chain programme.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The F-35 programme is not a workshare programme. It is a competitive international supply chain where F-35 work is won and secured on merit. The UK has been successful in securing F-35 work to date and are well placed to secure work in the future.

Through Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office approximately 15% of every F-35 aircraft delivered globally is manufactured by UK companies. The UK is the design authority for a range of significant Lightning aircraft components, securing highly skilled jobs within the UK and providing significant economic benefit. For example, the rear fuselage, batteries, ejector seats and actuators are manufactured in the UK for the entire F-35 global fleet. This manufacturing and equipment support for the global fleet of F-35 includes over 100 UK-based Tier 1 suppliers and has created over 20,000 jobs in the UK.

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