[T]he MP for Copeland has urged Ministers to commit to Moorside following the announcement of the Government’s £200m Nuclear Sector Deal.
Speaking in the Commons chamber during an Urgent Question on the Nuclear Sector Deal, Trudy Harrison MP praised the Government for ‘demonstrating its recognition of our nuclear sector’.
The £200 million deal aims to secure the UK’s diverse energy mix whilst driving down the costs of nuclear energy in a bid to cut energy bills for customers.
It includes a £32 million boost from government and industry to kick-start new advanced manufacturing programme including R&D investment to develop potential world-leading nuclear technologies including advanced modular reactors as well as a commitment to increasing gender diversity with a target of 40 per cent women working in the civil nuclear sector by 2030.
Speaking in the Chamber, Mrs Harrison said: “I was particularly pleased to see the reference to 40 per cent more females working in the industry by 2030 and I hope the Minister will join me in acknowledging the work that Women in Nuclear does and also the barriers, because often these nuclear licence sites are in rural, coastal locations where sufficient high quality, affordable, flexible childcare is simply not available at the moment.
“I hope the Minister would work with me in my own constituency. He talks of the 87,500 workers in the nuclear industry, in Cumbria we have 27,000 of those, and we are absolutely the centre of nuclear excellence.”
Yesterday, Mrs Harrison met with the Secretary of State and Nuclear Minister urging for a commitment to Moorside.
Mrs Harrison added: “The Nuclear Sector Deal means an extra £200 million of investment for an industry which excels in Copeland.
“This week I met with the Secretary of State Greg Clark and Minister for Nuclear, Richard Harrington to urge for support across all areas of sector from R&D, Small and Advanced Modular Reactors, Moorside and being better able to export the celebrated and in demand decommissioning skills across the world.”
This is the fifth Sector Deal to be launched following the publication of the UK’s landmark Industrial Strategy last November.
Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “The UK is the home of civil nuclear technology and with this investment in innovation and our commitment to increasing diversity in an already highly-skilled workforce, I want to ensure we remain the world leader.
“Nuclear energy not only fuels our power supply, it fuels local jobs, wages, economic prosperity and drives UK innovation. This Sector Deal marks an important moment for the government and industry to work collectively to deliver the modern Industrial Strategy, drive clean growth and ensure civil nuclear remains an important part of the UK’s energy future.”
