(Pendle) (Con): I
warmly welcome the immediate action announced by the Prime
Minister on the cost of energy, which will help families in my
Pendle constituency and right across the United Kingdom. Next
week is nuclear week in Parliament, so will she join me in
supporting the roll-out of small modular reactors championed
by Rolls-Royce
which has two sites in my constituency? We need this technology
now, so will she go further and faster in driving forward the
nuclear programme in this country?
The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is absolutely right that
small modular reactors are a very important part of our energy
mix. They are produced here in the United Kingdom. They will help
to boost growth as well as boosting our energy security.
(Bolton West) (Con):...We want
that commitment in the north-west but also in Hinkley Point C,
which is a phenomenal site and a phenomenal investment in our
United Kingdom. I want our commitment to nuclear energy and the
phenomenal workforce at the Hinkley Point C site in Somerset to
go on to the next nuclear project and a whole series of nuclear
projects, whether full-scale nuclear reactors or small modular
reactors. There is huge potential and ambition, which the Prime
Minister will set out and the Business Secretary will give more
detail on. That is immensely positive for so many different parts
of our country. I also particularly welcome the location
of Rolls-Royce SMR
headquarters in the city of Manchester...
(Ynys Môn) (Con)...The
people of Ynys Môn, which is also known as energy island, already
welcome that local production. Companies such as Morlais and
Minesto have received Government backing to set up tidal energy
systems off our shores. We are home to stretches of offshore wind
and solar farms thanks to Government subsidies and support. We
have Wylfa, once a flagship of British nuclear power with all the
potential to reclaim that position following this Government’s
commitment in the British energy security strategy and the new
Nuclear Energy (Financing) Act 2022. The Holyhead hydrogen hub
received £4.8 million of funding in last year’s Budget. With
companies such as Bechtel and Rolls-Royce keen
to re-establish nuclear production at Wylfa and BP Mona looking
to Ynys Môn to support large wind farms in the Irish sea, my
constituency can be at the forefront of UK power generation for
decades to come...
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