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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Rolls-Royce led consortium over the proposals to build mini nuclear power plants; what assessment they have made of their (1) level of involvement, and (2) commitments, required to implement those proposals; what would be the requirements for planning and other regulatory approvals; and what timescale is envisaged.

The Government has regular engagement with the nuclear industry, including with Rolls-Royce, and has discussed the Rolls-Royce-led UK Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Consortium’s work to design and deploy SMRs.

In November 2019, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) awarded an initial £18 million, matched by the UK SMR Consortium, for the development of a UK SMR under the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. The UK SMR Consortium is aiming for the design to be ready for operation in the early 2030s.

UKRI is monitoring progress closely, including the level of involvement of the UK SMR Consortium’s members, as well as progress against milestones and value for money. Decisions on further funding will be taken in due course.

The requirements for planning approvals are set out in the Planning Act 2008. New nuclear power stations are also subject to nuclear licensing and environmental permitting as regulated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the relevant environment agencies.