BARROW and Furness MP John Woodcock has urged the government to remain a member of the EU's nuclear body.

Mr Woodcock raised the subject of Britain's membership of Euratom - the European Atomic Energy Community, responsible for nuclear safety and security in Europe since 1957, in the House of Commons.

The EU Withdrawal Bill contains conditions which would see the UK leave the organisation after Brexit.

Mr Woodcock raised the issue in a question to Sir Alan Duncan, minister of state for foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

It followed Toshiba's announcement last week on its involvement with NuGen, the company with plans to build a new nuclear power plant at Moorside, near Sellafield, which it has a 60 per cent stake in.

The Japanese conglomerate announced that it remained committed to investment in Moorside but would eventually seek to sell its stake to new investors. It also hopes to participate without taking on risk from construction work.

He said: "The announcement by Toshiba last week regarding NuGen will mean that new foreign investment will be required for the Moorside nuclear development.

"Does this not place a new question mark over the UK’s decision to pull out of Euratom, which will create more instability for the industry?"

Sir Alan replied: "We shall remain a full member of Euratom while we remain part of the European Union, and we intend to make sure that all our research into nuclear fusion will continue after we leave."