Nuclear Safeguards (Fissionable Material and Relevant International Agreements) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

Lord Grantchester Excerpts

Tuesday 13th April 2021 Grand Committee

[Lord Grantchester (Lab)]

I thank the Minister for her introduction to the instrument this afternoon on the relevant international agreements on nuclear safeguards. The UK regime was one of the crucial elements necessary for having effective and coherent UK controls in place during the Brexit process. The Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018 gave powers to the Office for Nuclear Regulation to monitor and regulate the nuclear co-operation agreements, one of which was with Japan.

I am very happy to approve these regulations today, which amend and update the original 1998 UK-Japan agreement with the December 2020 amending protocol. They provide a framework for further trade in nuclear materials and technology, and facilitate research, development and exchanges of information. Without the details of the updates with Japan, can the Minister advise the Committee whether this amendment to the 2019 agreement is made further to the position under Euratom? As I understand it, the 2019 amendment merely confirmed the NCA with Japan in the original Euratom protocols under the IAEA. If my hunch is correct in any way, do the Government intend to update other NCAs, most notably with the US, Canada and Australia, in a similar fashion? Have the Government received any comments from the IAEA?

When the Nuclear Safeguards Bill, now an Act, was before the House in 2018 one of the concerns was the recruitment and training of nuclear inspectors for the ONR to undertake what was then its new task to the high IAEA standards. For interest, it would be helpful if the Minister could give any update on the operations of the ONR. Maybe she can confirm whether any ONR review or report is intended to focus on the nuclear safeguards part of its responsibilities.