Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on developing the skills pipeline needed to support Project Gwyndod.

The Nuclear Skills Plan is focused not simply on growing the nuclear workforce, but on creating a strong and sustainable pipeline of skills. This includes strengthening apprenticeships, graduate programmes, doctoral research and technical career pathways to develop the engineers, technicians and skilled workforce needed to support the UK’s current and future nuclear ambitions.

The UK Government is supporting the development of the Wales Nuclear Skills Hub as part of the Nuclear Skills Plan. The Hub brings together employers, supply chain organisations, local authorities and education and training providers across North Wales.

Officials have discussed the development of the Hub with the Welsh Government. The Hub is intended to act as a collaborative network to help coordinate skills and workforce development activity, supporting both delivery of the Nuclear Skills Plan and the wider economic opportunities associated with new nuclear development in the region. I will continue to work across government, with Welsh Government and industry to ensure that Wales benefits from this major investment on Anglesey.