Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to p2 of Small nuclear power: Government response to the Fourth Report of the Energy and Climate Change Committee 2014-15, HC 1105, what further analysis has been undertaken to understand the implications on waste management and disposal of using thorium fuels; and if he will commission a study to confirm the potential benefits of thorium in the longer-term and how any potential barriers to its use might be overcome.

No further analysis has been undertaken to understand the implications on waste management and disposal of using thorium fuels. There are currently no plans to commission a study to confirm the potential benefits of thorium in the longer-term and how any potential barriers to its use might be overcome.

The successful bidders for Phase 1 of the Advanced Modular Reactor Feasibility & Development Programme were announced on 28^th June. It should be noted that none of the eight designs that will be given an opportunity to demonstrate the technical and commercial feasibility of their designs plan to use thorium fuels.