Serious concerns about post-Brexit nuclear safeguards raised by EU Committee

• Letter to Richard Harrington MP - 18 May 2018 (pdf 74KB)
• EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee

Background

Euratom (the European Atomic Energy Community) implements a system of safeguards to control the use of nuclear materials. The Government has made arrangements for the UK to leave Euratom at the same time as leaving the EU, because the two share an institutional framework. However, failure to establish its own safeguarding regime before leaving Euratom may mean the UK is unable to import nuclear material, with severe consequences for energy security given that 20% of the UK's electricity comes from nuclear generation.

An ONR risk register, recently leaked to the media, highlighted a number of high-risk areas where preparations for establishing a UK safeguards regime have not progressed adequately. These include development of a new IT system for tracking nuclear material, recruitment and training of inspectors, securing funding, and obtaining access to the necessary equipment.

The Committee has written to BEIS' Minister for Business and Industry to ask for his urgent clarification on the state of play.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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