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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what role they see for small modular reactors in the UK’s future energy mix.

Nuclear power currently meets c. 20% of the UK electricity demand and is an important part of the UK’s energy mix. Government has made clear its commitment that new nuclear power stations should have a role to play in this country’s future energy mix, alongside other low-carbon sources.

My hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for Energy and Industry announced at the Nuclear Industry Association conference on 7^th December that up to £56m is being made available over the next 3 years for advanced nuclear technologies. This will include up to £44m R&D funding for developing advanced reactors and £12m to regulators to build the capability and capacity to assess and license new designs.