Commons Nuclear Safeguards Bill

Consideration of Lords Amendments

MPs considered Lords Amendments to the Nuclear Safeguards Bill on Tuesday 8 May 2018. The debate was opened by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Richard Harrington.  Shadow Minister for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Dr Alan Whitehead, responded on behalf of the Opposition.

The House of Commons disagreed with Lords Amendment 3 and made a further Amendment in lieu. Lords Amendments 1, 2 and 4 to 7 were agreed to. The Bill now returns to the Lords for further consideration.

• Watch Parliament TV: Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Nuclear Safeguards Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Nuclear Safeguards Bill

The Nuclear Safeguards Bill 2017-19

Summary of the Bill

The Nuclear Safeguards Bill aims to:

• Create the legal framework for a nuclear safeguards regime to operate in the United Kingdom to replace the current legal framework provided principally by the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Atomic Energy Community ("Euratom").
• Amend the Energy Act 2013 ("the 2013 Act") to replace the existing nuclear safeguards purposes of the Office of Nuclear Regulation ("ONR").
• Provide powers to the Secretary of State to make nuclear safeguards regulations, which will set out the detail of the domestic regime for nuclear safeguards.
• Provide a regulation-making power to the Secretary of State to amend certain legislation (including primary legislation) which make reference to parts of existing agreements on nuclear safeguards between the IAEA and the United Kingdom.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Nuclear Safeguards Bill and find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

• Follow Bills before Parliament: Nuclear Safeguards Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill through Parliament

House of Commons Library analysis

The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs and their staff of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.

• Read Library briefing paper: Nuclear Safeguards Bill 2017-19
• Read Library briefing paper: Euratom

Nuclear Safeguards Bill: previous Commons stages

Remaining Stages (Report Stage and Third Reading)

Report Stage and the Third Reading of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill took place on 23 January 2018.

• Watch Parliament TV: Remaining Stages of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Remaining Stages of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill

Committee stage

The Nuclear Safeguards Public Bill Committee considered the Bill from 31 October to 14 November 2017. The Public Bill Committee then reported the Bill to the House with amendments.

Find out more about the Public Bill Committee:

• Nuclear Safeguards Public Bill Committee membership, proceedings and written evidence

Second Reading

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, opened the debate on Second Reading of the Bill. Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rebecca Long Bailey, responded on behalf of the Opposition.

The Bill passed Second Reading without a division.

• Watch Parliament TV: Second Reading of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Second Reading of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Nuclear Power

Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.

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