Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Paragraph: 57
Publish secondary legislation clarifying Great British Nuclear's remit, funding model, and role in future projects.
Recommendation
In response to this Report, the Government should set out additional detail on how Government will intersect with Great British Nuclear, including details of Great British Nuclear’s exact remit and funding model, and the formal split of responsibilities with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. To aid this, the Government should publish the required secondary legislation that will support the creation of Great British Nuclear. Within this detail, the Government should clearly define what the role for Great British Nuclear will be on supporting new nuclear projects beyond the initial small modular reactors competition, including in relation to gigawatt size projects beyond Sizewell C and deployment of advanced modular reactors when technologically ready.
Government Response Summary
The government states that GBN's roles and responsibilities are clarified in pending Energy Bill legislation. Further details on GBN's role will be set out in the nuclear roadmap, which is committed to be published later in the year.
Paragraph Reference:
57
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Information about roles, responsibilities and the split between HMG and GBN is clarified in the legislation. GBN will operate through British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) in the period ahead of legislation passing. Clauses for GBN were included as amendments to the Energy Bill that is currently passing through Parliament and should receive Royal Assent this session. The clauses relating to GBN set out its role in facilitating nuclear generation projects in furtherance of policy set by Government. Upon Royal Assent the Secretary of State will designate a company as GBN. In the meantime, work continues at pace within the existing legal framework to support delivery of HMG’s ambitions. The government will set out further detail on the role of GBN in the Roadmap published later this year. routes to market for new nuclear projects, in addition to that provided by the GBN Technology Selection Process. Government is particularly keen to understand where GBN and the government could support the private sector to bring forward projects, and to further explore the role of nuclear energy in industrial decarbonisation as well as low-carbon heat and hydrogen production. The evidence received will help shape future policy and ensure that the UK’s nuclear programme is as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. Further details will follow on both this and the nuclear roadmap, which we have committed to publish by the end of the year and which aims to set out further next steps for civil nuclear.