Recommendation 17

One of the significant missing parts of the future of nuclear development is the lack of a utility developer in the UK, other than EDF-related companies. We recommend that the UK Government explains its plans to resolve this problem and whether there is a role for Great British Nuclear to play. (Paragraph 80) Nuclear energy in Wales 29 Written evidence: Letter from Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP, Chair, to the Prime Minister, 3 March 2023 Dear Prime Minister, I am writing ahead of the UK Budget announcement on 15 March 2023 to draw your attention to the representations made to us during my Committee’s inquiry into Nuclear energy in Wales. I would like to extend my thanks again to the Secretary of State for Wales and the Minister of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero for giving their time to attend our Committee meeting on 22 February. The Committee launched this inquiry following the publication in April 2022 of the British Energy Security Strategy, which set out the Government’s ambitions for 24GW of nuclear energy by 2050 and the creation of Great British Nuclear. Simon Bowen, advisor to the Government on the establishment of Great British Nuclear, told my Committee that “it will be disastrous if we waited another two years” because the “whole of the industry will lose faith” and that “we’ve got to have the courage to take an inter-generational view […] for low carbon and net zero”. The Strategy named Wylfa, north Wales, as a potential site for a new nuclear project. Since then, we have heard of growing concerns of a loss of momentum in delivery of the Government’s Strategy and consequently, further uncertainty over the future of the Wylfa site. We have heard from a wide range of industry representatives that Wylfa is considered the best site in the UK for new nuclear development. Indeed, it is difficult to see how Government can deliver its nuclear ambitions without taking forward a project at Wylfa. There is a strong view within the Committee that