To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made in replacing the generating capacity of those nuclear power stations which are approaching the end of their working life; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are fully committed to enabling the development of new nuclear power stations in the UK. The Office for Nuclear Development continues with its programme of facilitative actions aimed at removing unnecessary barriers to private sector investment in nuclear power. So far, energy companies have declared plans to build some 16 GW of new generating capacity with the first new station planned to come online in 2018.

The existing fleet of nuclear power stations will continue to operate to their published closure dates, although operators may, subject to the approval of regulators, seek lifetime extensions on a case by case basis.