Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to (a) consult on and (b) publish a draft charging agreement for a future UK State System for Accountability and Control of nuclear material.

A decision on cost recovery and charging arrangements will be subject to close engagement with industry and other key stakeholders, as well as public consultation. We intend to publish a public consultation and an impact assessment on the regulations later this year.

If the decision is made for the Office for Nuclear Regulation to be able to recover costs from industry, further appropriate consultation and engagement would take place, most likely later this year. If appropriate, that consultation and engagement would include the publishing of a draft charging agreement.