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Written question asked by Baroness Coffey (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 July 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 July 2026. It was answered by Baroness Curran (Labour) on Thursday, 30 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Office for Nuclear Regulation

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the Prime Minister on 2 July (HCWS180), 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.

Answer

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.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL2189
Session
2026-27
Related items
Machinery of Government
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Written statements
House of Commons
Subjects
Departmental responsibilities Department for Work and Pensions Safety Office for Nuclear Regulation Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk