Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what research has been carried out on the safety of small modular nuclear reactors.

The UK has a goal setting, non-prescriptive nuclear regulatory framework operated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UK’s independent nuclear safety and security regulator.. Within this, the onus is on companies to set out claims, arguments and evidence to demonstrate that prescribed nuclear activities can be carried out safely, securely, and in ways that manage nuclear safeguards.

The Government has funded the regulator to build their capability and capacity to assess SMR safety cases anticipating the growing demand from the advanced nuclear sector.