Minister for Energy and Industry to give evidence to Lords on nuclear technologies
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will next week question Jesse Norman MP, Minister for Energy and Industry for its inquiry into priorities for nuclear research and technologies. The Office for Nuclear Regulation and industry experts will also give evidence.
In the first session, the Committee will explore with the witnesses if there is sufficient co-ordination between the bodies involved in nuclear research and how it could improve. They will also examine the likelihood of the future use of Small Modular Reactors and whether the UK should be involved with Generation IV technology.
At 10:40am the Committee will hear evidence from:
- Dr Adrian Simper OBE, Technology and Strategy Director, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
- Dr Richard Savage, Chief Nuclear Inspector, Office for Nuclear Regulation
- Mr John Donald, Superintending Inspector, Office for Nuclear Regulation
- Mr Xavier Mamo, Director R&D UK Centre, EDF Energy
Questions they are likely to face include:
- Is there sufficient co-ordination between the bodies involved in nuclear research and, if not, how should it be improved?
- What steps does the Government need to take to ensure the UK has a coherent and consistent long term policy for civil nuclear activities?
- How do the regulatory and nuclear R&D systems work in other countries and how does that compare to that in the UK?
- What effect will leaving Euratom have on the UK's participation in long-term nuclear research and development projects?
In the second session the Committee will explore the Government's priorities for nuclear energy and how these are reflected in the BEIS's civil nuclear strategy.
At 11.40am the Committee will hear evidence from:
- Jesse Norman MP, Minister for Industry and Energy, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Professor John Loughhead OBE FREng FTSE, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Questions they are likely to face include:
- Does BEIS have a long term strategy for the UK's energy portfolio? If so, how does nuclear energy, including SMRs, fit in to that?
- What is the Government's intended approach for wider SMR policy?
- What action can the Government take to clarify the role and remit of National Nuclear Laboratory?
- Does the Government intend for the UK to be involved in the development of Generation IV technology?
The evidence session will take place in Committee room 4a on Tuesday 28 February in the House of Lords at 10:40 am.
