Speeches by MacAlister.

“If Sellafield were to make itself a global hub for testing robotics in hazardous environments, for example, it could spur some of that on.”

“It was just on this point about innovation insertion points. I guess there is also a case for saying that you could do some innovation development points as well, back to the point of shaping?”

“The NAO report shows they had lots of time to work at Sellafield. I speak for myself: I do not think that they are fit for purpose in making speedy decisions, and I think that probably lots of people in Government would share that view. I appreciate that you are operating within the mandate that you have been given, bu…”

“I would argue that EDF is seen in those terms as well, as transparent and probably a good buyer. I don’t know; there may be people watching this who have very different views on that, but I imagine EDF would be seen in that light, and yet it has a bit more freedom. I appreciate that you are operating within the rules t…”

“The final question is about the freedom and flexibility of procurement processes, given your role as a Government arm’s length body, and whether you have the range of freedoms that you would want in order to back the supply chain and particular communities in the UK in the way that, for example, EDF might be able to.”

“This is a linked point on land. The NDA has a number of sites and bits of land that are not currently being used for operational purposes, including the land at Chapelcross, Sellafield, which I am very aware of and which we have had lots of conversations about over recent months, and Harwell. Are you making full use of…”

“What is the barrier to doing more of that?”

“You think you have got it right?”

“Would you be interested in harder forms of influence or role?”

“I should say, just to register it, that I am an officer of the nuclear energy APPG. I welcome the NDA coming to the Committee. I think that this is an often overlooked, but really critical part of the work of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. It is very welcome that we are able to get into detail on this…”

“David, on the plutonium question, what are the opportunities for R&D programmes that could be exploited without necessarily changing the plutonium decision for the next few decades that was for putting it beyond use? I am thinking particularly about americium and the opportunities there. Do you think that there is a wa…”

“Indeed, Chair, yes.”

“Your example there is a good one to pick up on because, for example, Denmark now has a limited network access tariff that offers large energy users with flexible demand substantial discounts. Is that the kind of thing that you would like to see us use here with industrial users?”

“Can we talk a bit about industrial electrification? In “Future Energy Scenarios 2024”, in the organisation’s previous guise, you called for a review of the electricity and gas retail price difference to encourage industry to electrify. Are you of the view that you should go a step further and call for a review, and say…”

“I was going to ask that. Do the extensions that have been announced take you to the number in the new dispatch pathway?”

“I appreciate that.”

“The idea that to have really competitive contracts for difference auctions you need a wide number of businesses bidding into those auctions. Through the capping of potential projects within a year, the risk is that you may end up reducing the competition that takes place that you are able to pick from through a CfD auc…”

“Taking a step back to the discussion that Chris was taking us through the questions on, which goes back to the changes you announced yesterday around connections reforms, I want to understand a bit more about the relationship between capping the number of projects that can hold connections for a year with the need for …”

“Have you been able to extend into any commentary beyond the 2030 goal? Life extension of existing plants, if there is no fleet replacement, just pushes the problem further out on long-term sustainability. They cannot be extended forever. Have you looked beyond 2030 at the stacking of extensions without a sufficient pip…”

“To be super clear on the extension of existing plants, some of the plants are only being extended for an additional year, but you say that the announced extensions take you to the target dispatch number that is in the new dispatch pathway.”