Trudy Harrison MP has today urged the Government to directly engage in nuclear fleet deployment in a bid to ‘revitalise the UK nuclear industry’.
On Tuesday Mrs Harrison joined MPs to debate the Lords Amendments of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill, which aims to create the legal framework for a nuclear safeguards regime to operate after the UK leaves the EU.
Currently Euratom provides the basis for the regulation of civil nuclear activity in the UK, including fuel supply, waste management and cooperation between nuclear states.
During the debate, Mrs Harrison urged the Government to support a British built fleet of small, advanced and large scale reactors whilst doing more to support research and development and the world class decommissioning capabilities of West Cumbria.
Speaking in the Bill, Mrs Harrison, said: “There must be a concerted cost reduction emphasis, supported financially and in policy terms, and I would urge Government to consider becoming much more directly engaged in the nuclear fleet deployment, to really revitalise the UK nuclear industry.
“In Britain, the last nuclear reactor to be constructed was Sizewell B, completed in 1995 using imported PWR technology.
“The UK’s capability to design and build a nuclear power plant was dissipated and the renewal of the nuclear programme has been dependent on overseas technology and nuclear systems suppliers.
“All the more important that we ensure that the international, nuclear cooperation agreements are fit for purpose, and are in place.”
The Bill, when passed will enable the UK to set up a domestic safeguards regime to meet international commitments of safeguards, and nuclear non-proliferation standards.
The Commons have considered the Lords Amendments to the Bill and have accepted Amendments one, two and four to seven - Amendment three has been disagreed to so the Bill will be returned to the House of Lords, a process known as ping pong.
During ping pong, the Bill travels back and forth between the two Houses, until both agree on the text of the Bill.
Mrs Harrison, continued: “It is clear to me, from speaking with people working in the seventy something nuclear businesses in my constituency, including my husband, who is in the gallery tonight, celebrating his birthday watching, this debate, and those working in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, that the Ministerial team is making considerable effort to address all concerns.
“And I am grateful for the time that the Minister for Nuclear has spent with me, and in my Copeland constituency.”
Last month, the Under-Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Richard Harrington MP paid a Ministerial visit to Copeland, meeting with Sellafield bosses as well as addressing audiences at the Copeland Open for Business Conference and Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster AGM.
Mrs Harrison, added: “The priority for me and my community is having the ability for the UK to operate as an independent and responsible nuclear state when the Euratom arrangements no longer apply to the UK.
“I have said before that to not have arrangements in place would be catastrophic for my community, and it would be devastating for the nuclear sector nationally and internationally.
