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The Earl of Effingham (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 19 May 2025

Debate

Nuclear: Small Modular Reactors

Contribution

My Lords, please allow me to quote the noble Lord, Lord Howell, former Secretary of State for Energy: “some of us have been talking to the main SMR producers … delay and obstruction are their findings in dealing with the British Government … the order books are rapidly filling up in all other countries”.—[Official Report, 29/4/25; cols. 1095-96.] The chief executive of Rolls-Royce has also warned that the Government run the risk that critical supply chains to support the development of SMRs will be built elsewhere if they fail to select the companies to build them by the end of June. Time really is of the essence. Will the Minister also commit to urgently addressing the regulatory, planning and environmental concerns that have caused the cost of nuclear in this country to soar?

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