The nuclear industry is close to a sector deal with the British Government, according to an important minister.
Richard Harrington, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, made the comments after being questioned by Carlisle MP John Stevenson in the House of Commons.
Sector deals have been described as "something for something" agreements and are a key part of the Government's industrial strategy.
Mr Stevenson asked: "As the Minister knows, nuclear is an important industry in Cumbria. As well as being a security issue, energy is an industrial issue. Can the Minister confirm that a nuclear sector deal is one of the Government’s main priorities?"
Mr Harrington replied: "Yes, I can. Having met Lord Hutton (former MP for Barrow and Defence Secretary) and other members of the Nuclear Industry Association (a trade group), I am delighted to say that the sector deal is at an advanced stage, and we hope it will be one of the first that we are able to announce."
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