Extracts from committee stage (Lords) (day 8) of the European
Union (Withdrawal) Bill Lord Broers (CB):...Indeed, we would find
ourselves in the situation that exists in Germany, as described by
the noble Viscount, Lord Ridley, in today’s Times, where, because
the Germans decided to abandon nuclear power, they are now being
forced to build coal-fired power stations to back up their
renewable sources, thereby counteracting the purpose of building
the wind and solar facilities in the...Request free trial
Extracts from committee
stage (Lords) (day 8) of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Bill
(CB):...Indeed, we would find ourselves in the
situation that exists in Germany, as described by the noble
Viscount, Lord Ridley, in today’s Times, where, because the Germans
decided to abandon nuclear power, they are now being forced to
build coal-fired power stations to back up their renewable sources,
thereby counteracting the purpose of building the wind and solar
facilities in the first place. At least we have not got that far.
We are pressing ahead with our nuclear baseload and all looked well
until we made the incomprehensible decision to withdraw from
Euratom, despite the fact that our withdrawal was not legally
required by our withdrawal from the EU. Until now, we had sensibly
been relying on our membership of Euratom to improve our
capabilities to manage and dispose of nuclear waste, improve
radiological protection, keep up to date with the progress being
made on advanced fission reactors—including small
modular reactors, or SMRs—and remain major
contributors to the development of fusion power, particularly
extensions to the Joint European Torus, or JET, at Culham and the
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER...
(Con):...Many scientists and senior executives who
have worked in the nuclear industry consider that Euratom is a
rather bureaucratic organisation that is too cumbersome in its
approach to verifications and too much concerned with understanding
the detail of what all its members are doing, rather than helping
to ensure a proper, adequate nuclear safeguards regime. I believe
the noble Lord’s amendment does not recognise the upside of our
withdrawal from Euratom—we will ourselves be able to decide where
to commit funds in nuclear research and development. For example,
we might want to spend money on small modular reactors instead of on
ITER. Anyway, if we want to be in ITER, besides the EU/Euratom
countries, China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States
all participate. It will be good to be able to decide which
projects we commit funds to in nuclear research and which we do
not, whereas at present we have no independent right to
decide...
(LD):...I did not the read the
amendment as saying half the things that the noble Viscount
mentioned. I understand it very sensibly to be saying that we want
the Government to tell us in no uncertain terms how we are going to
remain in the various programmes of Euratom. That does not stop us
doing other things such as small modular reactors or whatever we
might want to do in addition—I really do not see that
problem...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
Extract from Commons
debate on Welsh Affairs
Mr (Clwyd West) (Con):...In
connection with that, I also make the case, as I am sure that the
hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Albert Owen) will, for the consideration
of Wylfa Newydd, which would be a hugely important element of the
north Wales economy. We should also listen to suggestions for the
development of small
modular reactors in Trawsfynydd which, again, I
suggest would represent a hugely beneficial element of the north
Wales economy...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
|
