Last week saw the APPG come together and agree on our focus, schedule and outputs for the next year.

We have started as we mean to go on, working pragmatically and collaboratively to achieve ambitious aims. Next year will mark 30 years since Britain last opened a nuclear reactor. By 2028, we are scheduled to only have one reactor left. Our role as parliamentarians to help turn the tide of this decline is more important than ever.    

So, what are we going to do?

Over the next year, the APPG will consult with industry, experts and ministers to develop a recommendations paper that will set out clear proposals across key areas of the civil nuclear sector, with the aim of supporting its growth and success.

Both the industry, and nuclear communities like mine, are tired of positive sentiments and empty promises. What they need is a clear plan.

The role an APPG can play is to bring decision makers and industry together to create cross party consensus around such a plan.

We have agreed a schedule of six set piece meetings to occur over the next year, each with an important focus:

1.      Nuclear’s role in Industrial Strategy

2.       Financing Nuclear

3.       The role of GW

4.       The role of SMRs

5.       The role of AMRs

6.      Nuclear’s role in data and big tech

Each meeting will provide an opportunity to welcome experts to contribute their ideas and experience of what has worked, what hasn’t worked and what we can learn from other countries.

Alongside this core programme of work we will be organising “learning sessions” with experts in the nuclear industry and group visits to Britain’s most important nuclear sites.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the APPG on developing this vital report. If you think you have an important contribution to make, please get in touch.