Cumbrian MP Trudy Harrison has pledged to visit all of the businesses in the nuclear industry in her constituency during Parliament's summer recess.

Mrs Harrison has also said that Government ministers will visit both Sellafield and the nearby site of the proposed Moorside power plant.

These comments came after she spoke in a debate in Parliament this week on the UK's membership of Euratom - the European Atomic Energy Community, responsible for nuclear safety and security in Europe since 1957 – which is set to end after the UK leaves the EU.

Brexit Secretary David Davis subsequently confirmed the UK would continue with plans to leave Euratom but insisted there is a "strong mutual interest" for close co-operation once the UK has left the bloc.

Mrs Harrison said: “The Government’s position paper released yesterday demonstrates the absolute commitment to maintain a close and effective relationship with the Euratom Community.

“As I made clear during this week’s debate, safeguarding has to continue under international law. It is imperative that new co-operation agreements are in place. Safeguarding is critical for the nuclear industry, and particularly for Sellafield, a community that is home to thousands of nuclear workers and the Centre of Nuclear Excellence (CoNE).

“During recess I will be visiting the 67 nuclear business in Copeland and following the Secretary of State’s (Business Secretary Greg Clark) previous visit, both the Minister for Energy and Industry, Richard Harrington MP and Jake Berry MP, Northern Power House Minister, will be visiting Sellafield and the Moorside site in the coming months."

Figures published by the Nuclear Industry Association last month showed that most Cumbrian nuclear employees - 14,707 - are based in Trudy Harrison's constituency.

This is followed by Workington with 426, Carlisle with 301, Barrow with 261, Westmorland and South Lakeland with six and Penrith and the Border with one.

She added: "I welcome the Government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth transition to a UK nuclear safeguards regime with no interruption in safeguards arrangements and to provide certainty and clarity to industry.

“As vice chair of the Nuclear All Party Parliamentary Group, I hope to facilitate the creation of a cross party working group which will allow further scrutiny of the Government’s progress throughout the negotiations.”