What steps he is taking to attract private sector investment for a fusion reactor.

What steps he is taking to attract private sector investment for a fusion reactor.

Fusion energy really is the energy of the future. Our fusion strategy, with a fusion prospectus to follow, has a strong focus on inward investment, very much ensuring that Britain is the world-leading place to invest in fusion energy.

Fusion energy really is the energy of the future. Our fusion strategy, with a fusion prospectus to follow, has a strong focus on inward investment, very much ensuring that Britain is the world-leading place to invest in fusion energy.

Last December, Donald Trump’s media and technology group purchased a Californian-based fusion energy company, putting his son Donald Jr. on the board in a $6 billion deal. The race is on for fusion energy production at scale. Will the Minister join me in welcoming the appointment of ILIOS consortium, led by Kier and Nuvia, to construct a fusion power plant in north Nottinghamshire? I am sure he agrees that will mean jobs and new skills and training for my constituency and beyond.

Last December, Donald Trump’s media and technology group purchased a Californian-based fusion energy company, putting his son Donald Jr. on the board in a $6 billion deal. The race is on for fusion energy production at scale. Will the Minister join me in welcoming the appointment of ILIOS consortium, led by Kier and Nuvia, to construct a fusion power plant in north Nottinghamshire? I am sure he agrees that will mean jobs and new skills and training for my constituency and beyond.

I do indeed welcome the £200 million design and build contract for ILIOS with, as my hon. Friend mentioned, Kier and firms like Turner & Townsend who can be relied on to deliver. We have allocated £1.3 billion over the spending review period for fusion. Britain has been firmly in the lead for research in this area; we need to be in the lead in its application, too.

I know that my hon. Friend’s constituents will benefit, but right now it would be difficult for constituents in Scotland to benefit, because the SNP cannot decide whether fusion energy is nuclear energy. I can tell SNP Members that it is, and they should be supporting nuclear energy across the whole country.

I do indeed welcome the £200 million design and build contract for ILIOS with, as my hon. Friend mentioned, Kier and firms like Turner & Townsend who can be relied on to deliver. We have allocated £1.3 billion over the spending review period for fusion. Britain has been firmly in the lead for research in this area; we need to be in the lead in its application, too.

I know that my hon. Friend’s constituents will benefit, but right now it would be difficult for constituents in Scotland to benefit, because the SNP cannot decide whether fusion energy is nuclear energy. I can tell SNP Members that it is, and they should be supporting nuclear energy across the whole country.

The Treasury Bench would be particularly disappointed if I did not once again showcase what we have at Dounreay: a licensed site, a skilled workforce and a population who would greatly support playing a role in the development of fusion for the future. May I suggest that the Scottish Enterprise network might put its hand in its pocket to bring that forward, if that is helpful to His Majesty’s Government?

The Treasury Bench would be particularly disappointed if I did not once again showcase what we have at Dounreay: a licensed site, a skilled workforce and a population who would greatly support playing a role in the development of fusion for the future. May I suggest that the Scottish Enterprise network might put its hand in its pocket to bring that forward, if that is helpful to His Majesty’s Government?

I share the hon. Member’s affection for Dounreay—I have family based in Reay and Thurso and have enjoyed many a holiday on the north coast of Scotland. As he said, it has a talented and experienced nuclear workforce, and I very much hope that they will play a part in Britain’s nuclear future.

I share the hon. Member’s affection for Dounreay—I have family based in Reay and Thurso and have enjoyed many a holiday on the north coast of Scotland. As he said, it has a talented and experienced nuclear workforce, and I very much hope that they will play a part in Britain’s nuclear future.

My Hon Friend the Minister of State for Energy, Michael Shanks MP, has today made the following statement:

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is today publishing A New Energy Revolution – The UK’s Plan for Delivering Fusion Energy.

This strategy builds on the government’s record £2.5 billion investment in...

My Hon Friend the Minister of State for Energy, Michael Shanks MP, has today made the following statement:

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is today publishing A New Energy Revolution – The UK’s Plan for Delivering Fusion Energy.

This strategy builds on the government’s record £2.5 billion investment in...

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is today publishing A New Energy Revolution – The UK’s Plan for Delivering Fusion Energy.

This strategy builds on the government’s record £2.5 billion investment in fusion research and development secured at the Spending Review, supporting the UK’s growing fusion industry and reaffirming...

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is today publishing A New Energy Revolution – The UK’s Plan for Delivering Fusion Energy.

This strategy builds on the government’s record £2.5 billion investment in fusion research and development secured at the Spending Review, supporting the UK’s growing fusion industry and reaffirming...

Programme motion agreed to. Clauses 106 to 114 agreed to. Amendment 118 to clause 115 negatived on division (6 to 6). Clause 115 agreed to. Clause 116, discussed with new clause 51 (Fusion energy facilities: nuclear site licensing), agreed to. Clauses 117 and 118 agreed to. Clause 119, discussed with new clause 37 (Assurance of independence of system and distribution operators), under consideration.

Programme motion agreed to. Clauses 106 to 114 agreed to. Amendment 118 to clause 115 negatived on division (6 to 6). Clause 115 agreed to. Clause 116, discussed with new clause 51 (Fusion energy facilities: nuclear site licensing), agreed to. Clauses 117 and 118 agreed to. Clause 119, discussed with...

My Lords, I will also speak to Amendment 130, as the noble Lord ably explained.

I understand that the noble Baroness the Minister will respond to this group. By way of background, these amendments relate to Clause 110 in Part 3, Chapter 3, headed “Fusion energy facilities: nuclear site licence not...

My Lords, I will also speak to Amendment 130, as the noble Lord ably explained.

I understand that the noble Baroness the Minister will respond to this group. By way of background, these amendments relate to Clause 110 in Part 3, Chapter 3, headed “Fusion energy facilities: nuclear site licence not...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the Government's proposal to develop and build a commercially viable fusion power plant by 2040.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the Government's proposal to develop and build a commercially viable fusion power plant by 2040.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of leaving Euratom on the (a) cost to the public purse of developing and (b) ability of the UK to develop commercially viable fusion power plants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of leaving Euratom on the (a) cost to the public purse of developing and (b) ability of the UK to develop commercially viable fusion power plants.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions took place on a framework programme for nuclear research and training activities for 2012–13 at the European Union Competitiveness Council on 9 and 10 March; and what contribution they made to those discussions.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions took place on a framework programme for nuclear research and training activities for 2012–13 at the European Union Competitiveness Council on 9 and 10 March; and what contribution they made to those discussions.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are utilising the United Kingdom's capability in fusion science and technology; and how they plan to collaborate with other countries using fusion energy research to make fission power cleaner and safer.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are utilising the United Kingdom's capability in fusion science and technology; and how they plan to collaborate with other countries using fusion energy research to make fission power cleaner and safer.

I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, on initiating this debate on fusion power. It is a matter of major strategic importance to the UK. I congratulate him on his excellent and complete speech. Much of what I say will parallel what he has said. No matter how seriously or...

I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, on initiating this debate on fusion power. It is a matter of major strategic importance to the UK. I congratulate him on his excellent and complete speech. Much of what I say will parallel what he has said. No matter how seriously or...

Although I do not think we have time today, I would be interested to hear about the Conservative Party’s policy on nuclear fusion.

Although I do not think we have time today, I would be interested to hear about the Conservative Party’s policy on nuclear fusion.