The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee begins its
inquiry into priorities for nuclear research and technologies with
two evidence sessions and hears evidence from leading academics and
industry experts.
The Committee explores with the witnesses issues such as
where the responsibility lies for ensuring the UK has a
coherent and consistent long term policy for civil nuclear
activities as well as how the nuclear sector might benefit
from a 'sector deal' as discussed in the Government’s
Industrial Strategy Green Paper.
Witnesses
Tuesday 21 February in Committee Room 4A, Palace of
Westminster
At 10.40am
- Professor Grace Burke, Director of Materials
Performance Centre, Manchester University
- Professor Mike Tynan, Chief Executive, Nuclear Advanced
Manufacturing Research Centre
- Dr Michael Bluck, Director of Centre for Nuclear
Engineering, Imperial College London
At 11.40am
- Dr Rebecca Weston, Technical Director, Sellafield
- Mr David Orr, Senior Vice President, Future programmes
and Technology, Rolls-Royce Nuclear
- Mr Tom Mundy, Executive Vice President–Program
Development and Managing Director–UK & Europe, NuScale
Power
Possible questions
Questions likely to be covered in the first session
include:
- Is there sufficient co-ordination between the bodies
involved in nuclear research and, if not, how should it be
improved?
- What are your experiences of working with the National
Nuclear Laboratory (NNL)? Does it have an appropriately
defined role and remit?
- Should the Government be focusing heavily on Small
Modular Reactors (SMRs)?
- Should the UK be involved in the development of
Generation IV technology?
Questions likely to be covered in the second session
include:
- The Government's Industrial Strategy Green Paper
discusses a possible 'sector deal' for the nuclear sector.
What might a deal usefully involve?
- Has the Government made clear its aims for SMR
development and its policy approach?
- How will leaving Euratom affect the UK Nuclear
Industry?
- Is the remit of the NNL suitable to provide research
and development support to the UK nuclear sector?
