Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Latest News:
    • John Stevenson MP visits Digging Deeper Exhibition at Tullie, Carlisle
    • John Stevenson MP welcomes Roads Minister to Carlisle to Make the Case for an A69 Upgrade
    • Regions Big Employers Supporting 10th Anniversary Carlisle Skills Fair
    • 10th Annual Carlisle Skills Fair to be held this January
    • John Stevenson MP welcomes the 2024 National Living Wage and National Mininum Wage Rates
    • How to Support our High Streets
    • Remembrance Sunday is a Chance to Reflect but also to Focus on how to Act for Freedom
    • Oral Question: British Steel
    Subscribe
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    John Stevenson MP
    MP For Carlisle
    • Home
    • In Parliament
    • News
      1. Latest News
      2. E-Bulletins
      Featured
      18th May 20230

      John Stevenson MP for Carlisle is Hosting the Northern Nuclear Conference on 29th and 30th June 2023

      Recent
      4th December 2023

      John Stevenson MP visits Digging Deeper Exhibition at Tullie, Carlisle

      4th December 2023

      John Stevenson MP welcomes Roads Minister to Carlisle to Make the Case for an A69 Upgrade

      1st December 2023

      Regions Big Employers Supporting 10th Anniversary Carlisle Skills Fair

    • About John
    • Gallery
    • Conferences
      • Northern Nuclear Conference
      • Northern Research Group Conference
      • North East Regional Conference
      • Party Conference 2023
    • Events
    • Get In Touch
    John Stevenson MP
    You are at:Home»In Parliament»Oral Question: Small Modular Reactors
    Parliament

    Oral Question: Small Modular Reactors

    0
    By John Stevenson on 21st February 2019 In Parliament

    John Stevenson: I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate, which is important for not just our country but our county. She talks about the private sector. Does she agree that there is a role for the Government, which should make a real commitment to supporting the SMR sector? That may include a financial contribution.

    Trudy Harrison: I thank my hon. Friend for that important reminder that we cannot do this without Government support. We have the capability and the demonstrable need. The industry is desperate to be part of the solution, but we must have the Government’s financial policy and industrial support to take this forward.

    From light water reactors to heavy water reactors, and molten salt to sodium cooled, the innovation in fission technology is most certainly alive and kicking. Some of our greatest, most innovative companies are now interested in building small reactors in the UK. Moltex, Atkins, NuScale, EDF, DBD, U-Battery Developments, Westinghouse, Sheffield Forgemasters and Rolls-Royce—these companies and hundreds of others involved with their supply chains, such as Goodwin, need our political, financial and industrial support.

    Today, there are about 50 civil small modular reactors at various stages of research and development across the world. Fleet build is widely anticipated to bring a swifter return on investment, with lower barriers to entry and standardisation. As politicians, it is surely our job to ensure that policy takes possibility towards probability. Constructing single or incremental small modular reactors on nuclear-licensed sites, where the existing industrial power requirement is currently dependent on fossil fuel, is surely a credible, sensible and more sustainable way to power the UK and beyond.

    There is one such location on the outskirts of the Sellafield site in Copeland. Fellside is a combined heat and power plant with a capability of about 170 MW, but it is due to come out of service later this year. It is outwith the nuclear licensed site boundary, but it has the benefit of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary for security, and obviously has a huge adjacent industrial power requirement, which is currently dependent on gas. Will the Minister consider Fellside a suitable, if not perfect, site for a future small modular reactor, and value the huge potential for further advanced manufacturing facilities in Copeland?

    This is not just about being the first, although we do have an impressive track record of firsts: the first civil nuclear reactor, the first Magnox reprocessing plant and the first thermal oxide reprocessing plant. In the words of my Prospect union rep:

    “With the most experienced workforce in the nuclear industry, West Cumbrians do it best”— and we want to keep doing it.

    I hope the Minister will tell me and the other Members in this debate who share my passion for nuclear how his Department will create the right market conditions to enable developers to bring new reactors to market and to create national and international markets. Grasping the opportunity to meet our domestic power requirements and capitalising on the early-adopter benefits of a multi- billion-pound, global export market while tackling the energy trilemma of security, affordability and environmental sustainability will mean that Cumbria continues to be the centre of nuclear excellence.

    This is not rocket science—although we do a bit of that at the National Nuclear Laboratory—but a case of multiples: the more we build, the cheaper things get. Many of the UK’s 15 nuclear reactors will come to the end of their long-serving lives by 2030, leaving us perilously vulnerable and dependent on fossil fuels. We must get serious about meeting the world need for affordable and reliable electricity, while slowing down global warming before it is too late.

    Thank you, Mr Paisley, for listening most intently. I look forward to a robust debate and to the Minister’s considered response to the points that I have made and that other Members will no doubt make as well.

    …later…

    John Stevenson: I reiterate my congratulations to my hon. Friend Trudy Harrison on securing the debate and, more importantly, on being a real advocate for Copeland and the nuclear industry. I have played a secondary role to her and have held a couple of nuclear conferences in my constituency. I am grateful to the Minister for attending the one I held last year.

    I am disappointed that the original development at Moorside did not go ahead. NuGen did a huge amount of work and it is to be congratulated on that effort. I pay tribute to Tom Samson and his team for the work they did. It is a disappointment that the development did not go ahead. The investment would have helped to transform Cumbria—not just west Cumbria but the whole county—and brought tremendous economic benefits; not only that, but it would have provided 7% of our national energy needs and made a significant contribution to the low-carbon economy.

    I believe the Government could and should take a proactive interest in the nuclear industry, including by investing directly in it. None the less, Moorside did not happen, so I look to how Cumbria’s strengths can be used in the future, particularly with regard to the possibilities of SMRs. Cumbria has two unique selling points: tourism and the nuclear industry, which employs a huge number of people. Some 10,000-plus are employed at Sellafield, we have the National Nuclear Laboratory and the Low Level Waste Repository, and there is a highly skilled supply chain. The industry’s impact on the area is significant in terms of employment, apprentices, graduates, research and skills. We must use the opportunities and skills we have to ensure that Cumbria exploits the alternatives that are available in the nuclear industry.

    I have talked about the local interest but, as I say, there is also a national interest. We are moving to a low-carbon world. How will we achieve that? Renewables undoubtedly will be a significant element, and I am a big supporter of solar, but nuclear clearly has its place in the energy mix. I have supported large nuclear plants, but clearly we need to get behind the development of SMRs, which may well be the future for our country. They offer greater flexibility, many commercial opportunities and a real chance for the UK to rediscover its nuclear development expertise.

    I believe that if we do that, Cumbria will play a central part. As I have already said, we have the skills and the expertise, the research facilities and the land, but probably most importantly, we have a population that supports the nuclear industry. Our people want to get behind the industry, in the interests of Cumbria and our national economy.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Oral Question: British Steel

    Written Question: Speedbump Specifications

    Written Question: Business Energy Prices

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Newsletter

    Enter your information below to stay up to date with John Stevenson's Newsletter. All emails include an unsubscribe link. You may opt-out at any time. The information you enter here will be stored in line with our Privacy Notice.

    Please wait...

    Thank you for signing up!

    • Skills & Apprenticeships
    • Infrastructure
    • Business & Investment
    • Charities
    • The NHS
    1st December 2023

    Regions Big Employers Supporting 10th Anniversary Carlisle Skills Fair

    27th November 2023

    10th Annual Carlisle Skills Fair to be held this January

    6th November 2023

    John Stevenson MP urges Local Business to Sign Up for the 10th Anniversary Carlisle Skills Fair

    19th September 2023

    “Save the Date” for John Stevenson MP’s 10th Annual Carlisle Skills Fair!

    14th April 2022

    John Stevenson MP Welcomes £4,104,659 in Funding to Level Up the Carlisle area

    2nd June 2021

    Carlisle MP Welcomes Openreach’s Full Fibre Commitment

    14th May 2021

    Carlisle MP Welcomes Announcements in Queen’s Speech

    21st April 2021

    Carlisle MP asks Rural Constituents to Take Part in Open Consultation on ‘Improving Broadband for Very Hard to Reach Premises’

    20th November 2023

    How to Support our High Streets

    16th October 2023

    John Stevenson MP visits New State-of-the-Art Komatsu Premises

    23rd June 2023

    pladis Opens New Carlisle Warehouse as part of £12m Investment

    8th April 2023

    John Stevenson MP welcomes £474,841 Investment for Carlisle from the Conservative Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund

    2nd June 2023

    John Stevenson MP Thanks Local Charity Volunteers during Volunteers’ Week 2023

    20th January 2023

    John Stevenson MP for Carlisle welcomes News of the National Lottery King’s Coronation Fund

    15th August 2022

    John Stevenson MP on Flying Visit to Great North Air Ambulance Service

    15th August 2022

    John Stevenson MP backs Silver Sunday, the National day for Older People, Sunday 2nd October 2022

    9th August 2023

    John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, Welcomes Government’s £600 Million Package to Help Recruitment and Retention in Social Care

    23rd February 2023

    John Stevenson welcomes Cheaper HRT for Women experiencing Menopause Symptoms

    16th February 2023

    John Stevenson MP welcomes £3m to Boost Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery in Cumbria

    23rd January 2023

    John Stevenson Champions “Make The Early Diagnosis of Liver Disease Routine” Campaign

    Search by Category
    • Agriculture
    • Arts & Culture
    • Business & Investment
    • Charities
    • Communities & Local Government
    • Crime & Police
    • Education
    • Energy
    • Health & The NHS
    • Housing
    • Immigration
    • In Parliament
    • Infrastructure
    • Latest News
    • Publications
    • Skills & Apprenticeships
    • Transport
    • Work & Pensions
    Latest Photos
    John with the Roads Minister by the A69
    John visiting the Roman Heads at Tullie House
    John visiting the new state-of-the-art Komatsu premises
    John sitting at table at the North East Regional Conference
    John at the North East Regional Conference
    John at Stanwix Community Centre on his Summer Tour
    John on Facebook
    John Stevenson MP

    1 day ago

    John Stevenson MP
    Wise advice from Carlisle Police - worth a read.We are urging people to be on their guard against phone fraudsters.The warning follows two incidents in Carlisle in the last three days where people received calls from people pretending to be police officers.On each occasion the person calling raised concerns that the person’s card had been used or cloned and asked them to make further phone calls.Investigations show these were not police officers and it was suspected to be an attempt to defraud the people of money.Police are asking people to be aware of the following advice.If you have any concern that the person on the phone may be a fraudster, put the phone down and call the police from a different phone on 101 for advice and guidance. If you receive a call you’re not expecting, you should be suspicious. The vital things to remember are that the police would: • Never ask you for your bank account details or PIN number over the phone. • Never ask you to withdraw money and send it to them via a courier, taxi, bank transfer or by any other means. • Never ask you to send your bank cards or any other personal property to them via courier, taxi or by any other means. • If you have any doubts about the identity of the person that you are speaking with, please put the phone down and attend the police station in person, wherever possible, to discuss the call you have received, or call a trusted number for the police using a different telephone than the one that you have been contacted on.We ask that the public please share this information with any vulnerable friends or family. If you think you have been the victim of a fraud you can report this to police on 101 and to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 – or by visiting their website at orlo.uk/dlnRE ... See MoreSee Less
    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    John Stevenson MP

    2 days ago

    John Stevenson MP
    www.johnstevensonmp.co.uk/john-stevenson-mp-visits-digging-deeper-exhibition-at-tullie-carlisle/ ... See MoreSee Less

    John Stevenson MP visits Digging Deeper Exhibition at Tullie, Carlisle – John Stevenson MP

    www.johnstevensonmp.co.uk

    John Stevenson MP visits Digging Deeper Exhibition at Tullie, Carlisle 0 By John Stevenson on 4th December 2023 Arts & Culture John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, last week visited the ‘Digging Deeper,...
    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    About

    JOHN STEVENSON

    John was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and Dundee University. John subsequently qualified as a solicitor in 1990. In 2010 John was elected Conservative MP for Carlisle and was re-elected with an increased majority in 2015. John was re-elected again in 2017 and 2019 with a new majority of 8319. Carlisle is the only city in Cumbria and John enjoys representing a constituency at Westminster with such a strong identity.

    Latest Posts
    4th December 2023

    John Stevenson MP visits Digging Deeper Exhibition at Tullie, Carlisle

    4th December 2023

    John Stevenson MP welcomes Roads Minister to Carlisle to Make the Case for an A69 Upgrade

    1st December 2023

    Regions Big Employers Supporting 10th Anniversary Carlisle Skills Fair

    Photo Gallery
    John with the Roads Minister by the A69
    John visiting the Roman Heads at Tullie House
    John visiting the new state-of-the-art Komatsu premises
    John sitting at table at the North East Regional Conference
    John at the North East Regional Conference
    John at Stanwix Community Centre on his Summer Tour
    John declares War on Weeds
    John shows Lord Parkinson (Minister for Arts and Culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) some of Carlisle's Tourist Attractions
    John discussing Dream Placement
    John holds campaign leaflet for Progress Schools 'In My Shoes' Campaign
    John speaking with apprentices and employees at Nestle factory
    John on stairs overlooking Carlisle Skills Fair 2023
    Copyright © 2015 JOHN STEVENSON. This website is funded by Parliamentary allowances.
    • About John
    • Privacy Notice
    • Get In Touch

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.