Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about the Nuclear Regulatory Review.
As a general rule, I do not sign EDMs as they have no prospect of changing the law or raising the profile of an issue with a minister and there are often other ways in which to raise the profile of a particular issue.
While I understand your concern about habitat regulations and nature, I believe nuclear power is vital to provide a cheap, reliable, and clean source of energy. I welcome the work of John Fingleton and the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce in outlining how Britain's nuclear regulation can become competitive once more.
I believe that the benefits of building new nuclear sites outweigh the effect on nature, particularly given the amount of land required to provide similar amounts of energy from wind and solar power and the far greater effect this has on natural habitats. That is why the Opposition laid amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Act to exempt new nuclear sites from the Habitat Regulations 2017, to free nuclear sites from disproportionate environmental regulation.
I understand the Government said it would respond to the Nuclear Regulatory Review within three months of its publication. While I am disappointed the Government has again chosen to delay in its approach to nuclear, I look forward to scrutinising its proposals once further details are available.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
