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Energy: Draft National Policy Statement for Nuclear Power Generation (EN-6)

Yes, my Lords. The overarching NPS states that, ""the IPC should consider how the accumulation of effects might affect the environment, economy or community as a whole, even though they may be acceptable when considered on an individual basis with mitigation measures in place"." In addition, the nuclear NPS specifically asks the IPC to consider cumulative effects, including the impact on the Lake District National Park. The IPC is well able to come to a proper judgment on those matters. On transmission and RWE, I can tell the noble Lords, Lord Jenkin and Lord Chorley, that we will explore with the national grid whether that decision affects the deployability of the sites by 2025 and whether they should remain on the list. Until we have explored with the grid, it is not clear that a lapsed agreement would impact. The real issue for us is to establish whether the agreement could be resurrected without a significant problem. I cannot say any more about it, except to reassure noble Lords that we are very alert to the position here. The noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, says that it is premature to reject Dungeness as a site, and the noble Baroness, Lady Young, is supportive of the position. We excluded Dungeness because the Government did not believe that a new nuclear power station could be built there without causing adverse impacts on the integrity of the Dungeness special area of conservation or that any impacts could be avoided or mitigated. Additionally, the imperative reasons of overriding public interest did not extend to Dungeness due to the alternatives available.