Changing ONR

In 2008, the Government commissioned a major review into the UK’s nuclear regulatory regime. This review was conducted by Dr Tim Stone, senior adviser on nuclear new build to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury.

Dr Stone made a number of recommendations, which included the need to restructure what was the nuclear regulatory body, the Nuclear Directorate (ND). He proposed the creation of a new, sector-specific regulator for the nuclear industry – the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

HSE is committed to establishing an appropriately resourced and responsive regulator for the future challenges of the nuclear sector. As an agency within HSE, ONR will carry out operational, regulatory and policy functions in relation to nuclear sites, security of nuclear material and sensitive information and safeguards.

ONR has a framework document which outlines how ONR will operate as an agency within the wider HSE and constitutes the authority for the conduct of its operations.

Energy Bill

In May 2012, ONR took another step closer to becoming an independent statutory corporation.  On 9 May, in her speech to open Parliament, the Queen announced the Government’s plans for the Energy Bill.  The draft Bill, which includes the provisions needed to establish the ONR as an independent statutory corporation, was published for pre-legislative scrutiny on 22 May and it is expected that the final version will be published for its passage through Parliament towards the end of this year.

The draft Bill and its accompanying documents can be found on the Department of Energy and Climate Change website.