Written question asked by Lord Judd (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 January 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 February 2016. It was answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 January 2016 on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Climate Change

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of climate change for (1) the climate and geology of West Cumbria, and (2) future nuclear developments in the country.

Answer: The energy National Policy Statements published in 2011 set out the considerations that should be taken into account by developers and the Planning Inspectorate to help ensure proposed new energy infrastructure, including new nuclear power stations, is resilient to climate change. The Nuclear National Policy Statement also explains that the independent nuclear regulators will ensure new nuclear power stations, including the one proposed for Moorside, will be located, constructed, operated and decommissioned with the long-term impacts of climate change in mind.

Secondary information