Written questions by Vaughan.

What steps he is taking to ensure the safe disposal of solar panels and wind turbines at the end of their viability.

It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps are being taken to provide funding to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Funding for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is being provided through the Government’s Spending Review (SR) settlement, confirmed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in June 2025, which allocated £13.9 billion of capital funding for the period 2025 to 2030. The SR settlement is the largest ever capital investment in nuclear decommissioning and demonstrates the government’s commitment to keeping the UK’s former nuclear sites and facilities safe. This funding enables NDA to continue to perform its core mission of keeping former nuclear sites safe and secure while progressing decommissioning and nuclear waste management.

What steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce.

We will present a full implementation plan by the end of February 2026, taking account of international obligations, security considerations, and planning, environmental and court processes. We aim to complete implementation within two years, subject to legislation when parliamentary time allows.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling energy networks to access a dedicated radio spectrum for enhanced operational communications.

Ofcom is responsible for the management of spectrum in the UK, including allocating spectrum. My officials are working with those in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and with regulators to establish and assess the evidence base for the future telecommunications requirements of the energy, water and transport sectors.

What discussions he has had with Great British Nuclear on the potential merits of developing new nuclear power generation on the site of the Dungeness Power Station.

Great British Nuclear (GBN) acquired sites at Wylfa (Ynys Mon/ Anglesey) and Oldbury-on-Severn (Gloucestershire) in 2024, although no decisions have yet been taken on any projects to be deployed at those sites. In terms of other potentially suitable sites, the government recently published a consultation on a refreshed planning framework for new nuclear reactors (EN-7). The proposed planning framework provides a robust set of siting criteria, and the government would welcome developer interest in identifying potentially suitable sites using the framework as EN-7 moves towards designation later this year.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulatory framework for approving nuclear projects.

The UK has an enabling and rigorous energy regulatory regime. The Government is taking steps to reform the planning process and will continue to work with the regulators to understand additional opportunities to streamline the regulation of new nuclear projects.