Written question asked by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Friday, 11 November 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 November 2011. It was answered by Mark Prisk (Conservative) on Tuesday, 22 November 2011 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Nuclear Power: Job Creation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had on the potential for creating manufacturing jobs through the building of new nuclear power stations and the associated socio-economic benefits of any job creation.

Answer: Ministers and officials in this Department and the Department for Energy and Climate Change have regular conversations with the energy and nuclear industry to ensure the delivery of nuclear new-build can happen to time and that opportunities are realised. Central to this is the Nuclear Development Forum.New nuclear build in the UK has the potential to afford considerable opportunities for manufacturing firms for both the domestic and global market. The Government support manufacturers, where appropriate, to enable them to realise these opportunities; central to this support are the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the Manufacturing Advisory Service, and the work Her Majesty's Government (HMG) are undertaking with the Nuclear Industry Association.It is also important that manufacturers have the right skills available in order to grow and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is providing match funding for the extension of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear to ensure that manufacturing skills are properly accommodated.The Government have recently provided some funding through the Regional Growth Fund to three manufacturers to help them realise potential opportunities.

Secondary information