3rd Report - Nuclear Research and Development Capabilities

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Committee's report and sets out proposed actions, with a long-term nuclear strategy and an R&D roadmap as its main response, while declining some structural recommendations.

• On a long-term strategy, it "accepts that more can be done" and says it "will therefore publish a long-term strategy" on nuclear's role up to and beyond 2050 "in the summer".
• It will lead development of a nuclear R&D roadmap, with delivery of the final document "envisaged before the end of 2012".
• It will set up an Advisory Board under the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, which it believes is "the best approach" rather than the recommended independent non-departmental public body.
• On extending the remits of the NDA, it "would have serious concerns" and does not plan to extend it; on funding, it wants a better understanding of current spend "before considering additional funding".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error