Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of EDF increasing its equity stake in Sizewell C to on the adequacy of the project's (a) commercial financing model and (b) risk allocation among public and private stakeholders.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
EDF has announced it will in principle invest into Sizewell C such that its stake in the project would be 12.5% following a final investment decision (FID).
Details of the commercial structure of Sizewell C are commercially sensitive as we conclude the capital raise process – further details will be published at the point of FID.
Sizewell C is expected to support around 10,000 jobs at peak construction and thousands more in the wider supply chain, as well as creating 1,500 apprenticeships. Sizewell C has 3500 UK suppliers and plans to award 70% of construction value to UK businesses.
This Government is committed to attracting the investment required to deliver future nuclear projects. The UK has long established relationships with international partners considering civil nuclear deployment.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment has been made of (1) number of trees felled, and (2) metres of hedgerow removed, on all sites related to the building of Sizewell C and the associated infrastructure.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Sizewell C was granted development consent following the Planning Inspectorate’s examination of Sizewell C’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application and all works are fully in line with DCO permissions.
Sizewell C report that the project has carried out advanced planting of 4,000 more trees than it has removed, and when the power station is complete, 42 hectares of woodland will have been created, amounting to between 50,000 and 100,000 trees and shrubs, plus additional hedgerows. Sizewell C has also created three nature reserves around the site – and three further nature reserves are being created locally to further mitigate for any land take.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to replace trees and hedgerows removed during the construction of Sizewell C and the associated infrastructure.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Sizewell C was granted development consent following the Planning Inspectorate’s examination of Sizewell C’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application and all works are fully in line with DCO permissions.
Sizewell C report that the project has carried out advanced planting of 4,000 more trees than it has removed, and when the power station is complete, 42 hectares of woodland will have been created, amounting to between 50,000 and 100,000 trees and shrubs, plus additional hedgerows. Sizewell C has also created three nature reserves around the site – and three further nature reserves are being created locally to further mitigate for any land take.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to build a large nuclear power station using European pressurised reactor technology after the completion of Sizewell C.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government is committed to nuclear power. As set out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, nuclear will play an important role in delivering clean power by 2030 and beyond, providing clean, stable and reliable power. No decision has yet been taken on whether to pursue a future large-scale project beyond Sizewell C.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Sizewell C will be classified as (a) public or (b) private expenditure and borrowing for the purposes of the national accounts.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While HMG's investments in the project since November 2022 have resulted in the project being consolidated to the government’s balance sheet, a decision on the economic classification of Sizewell C will be made by the Office for National Statistics, independently of HMG.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the final investment decision for the Sizewell C plant will be made, and when the results of the small modular reactor competition will be announced.
Answered by Baroness Curran
As confirmed at the Autum Budget, both the equity and debt raise processes are in their final stages. A final decision on whether to proceed with the project will be made at the Spending Review.
Great British Nuclear is driving forward its small modular reactor competition for UK deployment. Following a period of detailed negotiation, bidders have submitted final tenders, which Great British Nuclear is evaluating. Final decisions will be taken shortly.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much funding his Department has allocated to support Sizewell C nuclear plant in advance of the final investment decision for that plant.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Sizewell C Development Expenditure Subsidy Scheme (DEVEX Scheme) has been made for £5.5bn for the Sizewell C company. Under this scheme to date, £3.9bn has been awarded to the company, in two tranches, one of £1.2bn and one of £2.7bn.
Prior to these awards, the Department had awarded £2.5bn to the project since the Government Investment Decision in November 2022 under the SZC Investment Funding Scheme.
Hence, in total, the Department has to date allocated £6.4bn to the project under both subsidy scheme.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he expects the final investment decision to be taken in relation to Sizewell C.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
A final investment decision on whether to proceed with the Sizewell C project will be taken in Phase 2 of the Spending Review.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much public investment has been directed to Sizewell C in each year since 2022.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has announced funding provided to Sizewell C in the following financial years: £100m in 2021/22, £679m in 2022/23, £1,811m in 2023/24 and £1,200m in 2024/25 to date.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the number of foreign nationals employed at (a) Sizewell and (b) Hinckley nuclear power station by country of origin in each year from 2010 to 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The department does not collect information on the number of foreign nationals employed on the Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C projects.
Access to the critical systems for both reactors would be restricted to UK nationals only. The nuclear license holder will be obliged to meet security standards as set out by the Regulator.