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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the UK withdrawing from Euratom on energy production in the UK.

The Department is working closely across Government and with industry to assess this. Around 20% of the UK’s electricity comes from nuclear power. In order to ensure the continued success of the civil nuclear industry and nuclear energy production, a Bill to establish a domestic nuclear safeguards regime was included in the Queen’s Speech. This is being taken forward as a matter of urgency alongside other measures also being implemented, including international negotiations. The UK secured agreement with the EU that a Euratom Working Group should commence negotiations this month as a priority. The Government is determined that the UK continues to meet its international safeguards, and nuclear non-proliferation obligations and support its thriving nuclear industry.