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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for setting up a UK atomic energy agency in the event that the UK cannot remain part of Euratom after the UK leaves the EU.

As the UK leaves Euratom, this Government is putting in place appropriate measures to provide maximum continuity for the civil nuclear sector. New international safeguards agreements have been signed with the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrangements for continued nuclear cooperation with key trading partners are being put in place and the Nuclear Safeguards Bill, which provides the legal framework for a civil nuclear safeguards regime, has completed its passage through Parliament and will shortly become an Act.

The domestic nuclear safeguards regime to be established under the powers provided by the Nuclear Safeguards Bill, will be operated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). This Government has been working closely with ONR to put in place the measures needed to ensure continuity for the civil nuclear sector and ensure the UK continues to meet its international commitments upon withdrawal from Euratom.