Speeches by MacAlister.

“The spring window.”

“I ask because there has already been a series of delays. I know that these are not entirely within your control, but in terms of the part that GBN plays, they want confidence and certainty about a process that keeps moving, and spring is not a confident envelope; it is quite a broad one.”

“Spring 2025 is the date that has been shared, and Governments sometimes refer to having only two seasons in a year, spring and autumn. Can you give us any more clarity on when in spring you expect to make an announcement about the next stage of the SMR programme?”

“Hi, Simon. I have a few questions that I will try to move through quickly. Just to pick up on a theme raised in the two previous questions, are you permanent yet or are you still interim?”

“On the appointment of the chief executive and the senior leadership team by you and the board, are you clear yet on who is making that call and what that says about the operational independence of the company?”

“Thank you very much, and welcome to the Committee. The first question is about an issue that was raised during the Bill Committee for the GBE Bill, and was related to the operational independence of Great British Energy. There was a lot of reassurance provided during that process that GBE would be distinct from other i…”

“Not a view shared by all communities.”

“Would you accept that there is currently no process, facility or function of Government that would enable that? Not just for a community power company but for people who may wish to invest in a data centre and want to locate a small nuclear generator next to it.”

“Turning to the final bit from me, I have a concern that we are being too linear here about SMR, AMR and gigawatt programmes. We have GBN mandated with only one task at the moment, which is the SMR competition, and that then needs to fit into a world where we have the 2030 clean energy target. The SMRs will not play a r…”

“The next questions are about gigawatt.”

“Thinking about obstacles and challenges for progressing—things like land and private investment—what are you most worried about risk-wise for the next stage of the SMR programme?”

“Can you briefly talk us through the logic for the SMR competition process itself? The US Federal Government have taken a different approach—not for SMRs but for AMRs—and are backing what you might call two national champions, X-energy and TerraPower. They have co-invested, made the decision and are getting on with cons…”

“If 24 GW by 2050 were still the goal, would we be on or off track for it at the moment, with the delays we have currently had with the SMR programme?”

“The outcomes for children and families involved in the children’s social care system are some of the worst in our country. That is truly a huge social justice issue, so I welcome the leadership shown by the Secretary of State and her team so soon in the new Government’s time in office. So many of the recommendations ca…”

“I thank the Minister for giving way and for her leadership on this really important issue; I know she cares a lot about it. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Hitchin (Alistair Strathern) on securing the debate, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the brilliant kinship carers here today and across the…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. I have two fantastic breweries in my constituency—Tractor Shed and Ennerdale Brewery—which are not that far from Carlisle, despite the state of some of the roads and rail. Would it not be fantastic if more Cumbrian breweries found a route to Cumbrian pubs for t…”

“I extend my thanks to the Secretary of State and the team for the early action they have taken to improve the reliability of the network. My constituents struggle with two lines. One is the Cumbrian coast line, on which I ask the Secretary of State for any update on the ongoing conductors’ dispute. That is adding to a …”

“I am delighted to have the chance to speak in this important debate about rural affairs. I will focus my remarks on farming. West Cumbria is home to hundreds of farmers, primarily cattle and upland sheep farmers. Sheep are ubiquitous in Cumbria: for every Cumbrian, there are five sheep. Farmers are rightly very proud o…”

“I appreciate that the right hon. Lady has referenced the NHS. I get lots of letters, emails and messages from farmers who have been completely let down by the state of the NHS as it was left by her as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Given that she has a new role, has she had any time to reflect on where …”

“On 4 July, the British people voted decisively for one clear promise: the promise of change. The Budget delivers on that promise. We have change, from years of short-termism, unmanaged decline and a weak, unbalanced economy with anaemic growth, to a long-term plan for the future of Britain that invests in the British p…”