Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make provision for giving effect to an International Agreement for the application of Safeguards in the United Kingdom in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; and to authorise contributions by the Secretary of State to expenditure by the Central Electricity Generating Board in connection with the construction of the second stage of the Board's generating station at Drax. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1978 c. 25 |
| Introduced by | Anthony Wedgewood Benn, Secretary of State for Energy, on 24 April 1978 (Second Reading) (Commons) |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 30 June 1978 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Electricity Act 1989 |
Status: Amended | |
The Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978 (c. 25) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which gave effect to safeguards associated with the international agreement on nuclear weapons. It also authorised the financing of Drax power station.
Background[edit]
The Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was made on 6 September 1976. In an agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community and the International Atomic Energy Agency the UK had a Safeguards Agreement in connection with the Treaty. This Act gave effect to that agreement.[1]
Parliament agreed that the Central Electricity Generating Board could use up to £50 million to build the second stage of the Drax power station in Yorkshire.[1]
Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978[edit]
The Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978 received Royal Assent on 30 June 1978. Its long title is ‘An Act to make provision for giving effect to an International Agreement for the application of Safeguards in the United Kingdom in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; and to authorise contributions by the Secretary of State to expenditure by the Central Electricity Generating Board in connection with the construction of the second stage of the Board’s generating station at Drax.’
Provisions[edit]
The Act comprised six Sections:[1]
- Section 1 The Safeguards Agreement. Agreement initially presented to Parliament on 3 March 1977.
- Section 2 Rights of Agency inspectors. Making an inspection, prohibited places controlled by the Atomic Energy Authority, making false statements, fines.
- Section 3 Regulations for giving effect to certain provisions of Safeguards Agreement. The Secretary of State empowered to make regulations associated with the Safeguards Agreement.
- Section 4 Offences by bodies Corporate, Offences by individuals and bodies corporate.
- Section 5 Contributions by Secretary of State towards expenditure in connection with stage two of Drax power station
- Section 6 Short title and extent. The Act extends to Northern Ireland
Effects of the Act[edit]
The construction of stage two of Drax power station was completed in May 1986.[2] The Safeguards Agreement has been periodically revised; the current (2022) version was made in Vienna on 7 June 2018. The Nuclear Safeguards were extended to Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man in 2004. There is an altered relationship between the UK and the European Union as a result of Brexit.[1]
Amendment[edit]
The Act has been amended to include updated versions of the Safeguards Agreement, and the inclusion of the Crown Dependencies under the terms of the Act. Section 5 of the Safeguards Act was repealed by the Electricity Act 1989.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Sheail, John (1991). Power in Trust. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 2001. ISBN 0198546734.
- ^ "Electricity Act 1989". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2022.