Парламентарий подвергает сомнению независимость регулятора ядерной безопасности после перевода под ведомство энергетики

A peer has questioned the “functioning independence” of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) following the government’s decision to change its sponsor department from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). On 2 July, then prime minister Sir Keir Starmer issued a written ministerial statement titled Machinery of government. “I am making this statement to bring to the House’s attention the following Machinery of government change,” he said. “As part of the reforms the government is making to nuclear regulation, I am today announcing that responsibility for the Office for Nuclear Regulation will transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). “As the lead department for civil nuclear policy, DESNZ will be best placed to ensure that nuclear regulation is proportionate and suited to deliver the UK’s long term nuclear ambitions, supporting the government’s broader response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025. “The ONR’s statutory independence will be unaffected by this change. This change will take effect from 1 August 2026.” In its 13 March response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025, also called the Fingleton Review, the government said: “We will streamline the complex regulatory structures to enable faster, clearer decision-making and strengthen accountability across defence and civil nuclear.” Announcing the response, on 16 March, DESNZ minister of state Michael Shanks said: “The Review found that while the United Kingdom has a strong safety culture, the current system for nuclear regulation and delivery is fragmented, slow, and overly cautious. “The government accepts this assessment and shall modernise the system so that it is faster, clearer and predictable, while at all times maintaining high standards of safety and environmental protection.” He added: “We will simplify regulation. Projects that involve multiple regulators will have a single coordinating point of contact through a lead regulator model, with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) as the default lead for nuclear fission. We will legislate to establish a Commission on Nuclear Regulation to resolve cross cutting issues and reduce duplication.” Also on 1 July 2026, the ONR issued its own statement, saying it “remains an independent public corporation, established under the Energy Act 2013, and this administrative change does not affect our statutory basis, legal powers, or the way in which we carry out our regulatory work”. It added: “We are looking forward to working with our new sponsorship team and will continue to provide independent regulation of the nuclear sector for a safe, secure and sustainable future.” During an oral evidence session of the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee about the ONR on 22 July 2025, Baroness Jo Valentine asked why the DWP was the sponsor department. She said: “DWP is your sponsoring department; I am surprised by that. Is that logical?” ONR chair Nicola Crauford responded, saying: “One reason for that is probably partly historical. The ONR was originally part of the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), but we were split off from it; obviously, the HSE is part of the DWP. “The other reason, I think, is to separate the policy arm from the sponsoring department and, in that way, to ensure the independence of the regulatory body. “The DWP is not responsible for any activities in the nuclear sector, but DESNZ is and could potentially influence the regulator, hence the separation. That is what I understand; I might be wrong.” ONR chief executive and chief nuclear inspector Mike Finnerty added: “That’s right.” Following the July 2026 news that the sponsorship department was changing, Baroness Coffey asked the government “what safety protections are in place for the functioning independence of the Office for Nuclear Regulation after its transfer to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, recognising that as it is not a non-ministerial department, ministerial directions can be issued”. DESNZ parliamentary under-secretary of state Baroness Curran responded: “The Office for Nuclear Regulation was established under the Energy Act 2013 and will remain an independent public corporation. This change does not affect their statutory basis, legal powers or regulatory decisions. “Ministers do not intervene on matters of regulatory decision-making. The extent to which Ministers can direct the ONR is set out in the Act and under Section 108 of that Act, any Ministerial direction is reported to Parliament on an annual basis.” DESNZ was approached for comment and referred back to Curran’s words. An ONR spokesperson told NCE: “This government decision came into effect on 1 August, 2026. “ONR remains an independent public corporation, established under the Energy Act 2013, and this administrative change does not affect our statutory basis, legal powers, or the way in which we carry out our regulatory work. “We will continue to provide independent regulation of the nuclear sector for a safe, secure and sustainable future.”