Law

Energy Act 2013

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2024-10-01, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 174 provisions

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174 provisions

78 Principal function

(1) The ONR must do whatever it considers appropriate for the ONR's purposes. (2) That includes, so far as it considers appropriate, assisting and encouraging others to further those purposes.

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79 Codes of practice

(1) The ONR may, in accordance with section 80— (a) issue codes of practice giving practical guidance as to the requirements of any provision of the relevant statutory provisions; (b) revise or withdraw a code of practice issued under this section. (2) A code of practice (including a revised code) must specify the relevant statutory provisions to which it relates. (3) References in this Part to an approved code of practice are references to a code issued under this section as it has effect for the time being. (4) A person's failure to observe any provision of an approved code of practice does not of itself make the person liable to any civil or criminal proceedings. (5) But subsections (6) to (8) apply to any proceedings for an offence where— (a) the offence consists of failing to comply with any requirement or prohibition imposed by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, and (b) at the time of the alleged failure, there was an approved code of practice relating to the provision. (6) Any provision of the code of practice which appears to the court to be relevant to the alleged offence is admissible in evidence in the proceedings. (7) Where— (a) in order to establish that the defendant failed to comply with the requirement or prohibition, the prosecution must prove any matter, (b) the court is satisfied that a provision of the code of practice is relevant to that matter, and (c) the prosecution prove that, at a material time, the defendant failed to observe that provision of the code of practice, that matter is to be taken as proved unless the defendant proves that the requirement or prohibition was complied with in some other way. (8) A document purporting to be an approved code of practice is to be taken to be such an approved code unless the contrary is proved.

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80 Procedure for issue, revision or withdrawal of codes of practice

(1) The ONR may— (a) issue or revise a code of practice under section 79 only in accordance with subsection (8); (b) withdraw a code of practice under that section only in accordance with subsection (11). (2) Before issuing, or revising or withdrawing, a code of practice, the ONR must submit a proposal to the Secretary of State. (3) Before submitting a proposal to the Secretary of State the ONR must consult— (a) any government department or other person that the Secretary of State has directed the ONR to consult, and (b) any other government department or other person that the ONR considers it appropriate to consult, about the proposal. (4) A direction under subsection (3)(a) may be general or may relate to a particular code, or codes of a particular kind. (5) A proposal for issuing or revising a code of practice must include a draft code of practice or, as the case may be, proposed revisions of a code of practice. (6) Where the ONR submits a proposal for issuing or revising a code of practice to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State may approve the draft code of practice, or proposed revisions, as the case may be— (a) without modification, or (b) with the consent of the ONR, with modifications. (7) If the Secretary of State approves the draft code or proposed revisions, the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament the draft code or proposed revisions in the form approved. (8) Where— (a) the Secretary of State has laid a draft code or proposed revisions of a code before Parliament, and (b) no negative resolution is made within the 40-day period, the ONR may issue the code in the form of the draft laid before Parliament or, as the case may be, make the proposed revisions in the form so laid. (9) For the purpose of subsection (8)— (a) a “negative resolution”, in relation to a draft code or proposed revisions, means a resolution of either House of Parliament not to approve the draft code or proposed revisions; (b) the “40-day period”, in relation to a draft of a code or proposed revisions, means the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before Parliament (or, if it is not laid before each House of Parliament on the same day, the later of the 2 days on which it is laid). (10) For the purposes of calculating the 40-day period, no account is to be taken of any period during which— (a) Parliament is dissolved or prorogued, or (b) both Houses are adjourned for more than 4 days. (11) Where— (a) the ONR submits to the Secretary of State a proposal for the withdrawal of a code of practice, and (b) the Secretary of State approves the proposal, it may withdraw the code. (12) The ONR must— (a) publish any code of practice issued under section 79; (b) when it revises such a code, publish— (i) a notice to that effect, and (ii) a copy of the revised code; (c) when it withdraws such a code, publish a notice to that effect.

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81 Proposals about orders and regulations

(1) The ONR may from time to time— (a) submit proposals to the Secretary of State for— (i) nuclear regulations, (ia) regulations under section 76A (nuclear safeguards regulations etc), (ii) regulations under section 85, (iii) regulations under section 101, (iiia) regulations under section 112(1B) (definition of “relevant international agreement”), (iv) health and safety fees regulations, or (v) orders or regulations under a relevant enactment; (b) submit proposals to the Health and Safety Executive for relevant health and safety regulations. (2) In this section— “health and safety fees regulations” means regulations under section 43(2) of the 1974 Act in relation to fees payable for or in connection with the performance of a function by or on behalf of— the ONR, or a health and safety inspector; “relevant enactment” means— section 3 of the Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978 (regulations for giving effect to certain provisions of Safeguards Agreement); section 3 of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000 (identifying persons who have information); section 5(3) of that Act (rights of access for Agency inspectors); section 80 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (prohibition of disclosures of uranium enrichment technology); “relevant health and safety regulations” means regulations under section 15 of the 1974 Act so far as they can be made for the nuclear site health and safety purposes. (3) Before submitting any such proposal, the ONR must consult— (a) any government department or other person that the Secretary of State has directed the ONR to consult, and (b) any other government department or other person that the ONR considers it appropriate to consult. (4) A direction under subsection (3)(a) may be general or may relate to a particular proposal, or to proposals of a particular kind.

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82 Enforcement of relevant statutory provisions

(1) The ONR must make adequate arrangements for the enforcement of the relevant statutory provisions. (2) In this Part, “relevant statutory provisions” means— (a) the provisions of this Part, nuclear regulations and nuclear safeguards regulations; (b) the provisions made by or under the following sections of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, so far as they have effect in England and Wales or Scotland— section 1; sections 3 to 5; section 6, so far as it relates to sites in respect of which nuclear site licences have been granted; section 22; section 24A; and (c) the provisions of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000.

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83 Inspectors

Schedule 8 (appointment and powers of inspectors) has effect.

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84 Investigations

(1) The ONR may— (a) investigate and make a report (“a special report”) on any relevant matter, or (b) authorise another person to do so. (2) The ONR may publish or arrange for the publication of— (a) a special report, or (b) so much of a special report as the ONR considers appropriate. (3) In this section “relevant matter” means any accident, occurrence, situation or other matter which the ONR considers it necessary or desirable to investigate— (a) for any of the ONR's purposes, or (b) with a view to the making of— (i) nuclear regulations, (ia) regulations under section 76A (nuclear safeguards regulations etc), (ib) regulations under section 112(1B) (definition of “relevant international agreement”), or (ii) regulations under section 15 of the 1974 Act (health and safety regulations) so far as they can be made for the nuclear site health and safety purposes. (4) The ONR may pay such remuneration, expenses and allowances as it may determine to a person who— (a) is not a member or member of staff of the ONR, and (b) investigates a relevant matter or makes a special report under subsection (1), or assists in doing so. (5) The ONR may make such payments as it may determine to meet the other costs (if any) of an investigation or special report under subsection (1). (6) The ONR must consult the Office of Rail and Road before taking any step under subsection (1) in relation to a matter which appears to the ONR to be, or likely to be, relevant to the railway safety purposes (within the meaning given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Railways Act 2005). (7) Subsection (2) is subject to section 94.

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85 Inquiries

(1) The ONR may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, direct an inquiry to be held into any matter if it considers the inquiry necessary or desirable for any of the ONR's purposes. (2) In this Part “ONR inquiry” means an inquiry under this section. (3) An ONR inquiry must be held in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State. (4) Except as provided by the regulations— (a) an ONR inquiry is to be held in public; and (b) any report made by the person holding an ONR inquiry is to be published. (5) The regulations may in particular make provision— (a) conferring on the person holding an ONR inquiry and any person assisting that person— (i) powers of entry and inspection; (ii) powers of summoning witnesses to give evidence or produce documents; (iii) power to take evidence on oath and to administer oaths; (iv) power to require the making of declarations; (b) as to circumstances in which— (i) an ONR inquiry or any part of it is to be held in private; (ii) any report, or part of a report, made by the person holding an ONR inquiry is not to be published; (c) conferring functions on the ONR or the Secretary of State; (d) creating summary offences. (6) An offence under the regulations may be made punishable with— (a) in England and Wales, a fine (or a fine not exceeding an amount specified, which must not exceed level 4 on the standard scale), or (b) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding the amount specified, which must not exceed level 5 on the standard scale. (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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86 Inquiries: payments and charges

(1) The ONR may pay such remuneration, expenses and allowances as it may determine to— (a) a person holding an ONR inquiry; (b) any assessor appointed to assist a person holding an ONR inquiry. (2) The ONR may pay to persons attending an ONR inquiry as witnesses such expenses as it may determine. (3) The ONR may make such payments as it may determine to meet the other costs (if any) of an ONR inquiry. (4) The ONR may require such person or persons to make such payments to it as it considers appropriate in connection with an ONR inquiry. (5) The aggregate of the payments required under subsection (4) must not exceed the ONR's costs that are attributable to the ONR inquiry. (6) No payment may be required under subsection (4) except with the consent of the Secretary of State.

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87 Provision of information

(1) The ONR must make such arrangements as it considers appropriate for providing information that it holds that is relevant to the ONR's purposes. (2) Arrangements that may be made under subsection (1) are arrangements of any description, including arrangements— (a) for providing information to any person or category of persons (whether or not concerned with matters relevant to the ONR's purposes); (b) for providing information on request or on the ONR's initiative; (c) for providing only such information as the ONR considers appropriate. (3) This section is subject to section 94.

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88 Research, training etc

(1) The ONR— (a) may carry out research in connection with the ONR's purposes, or arrange for such research to be carried out on its behalf, and (b) must, if it considers it appropriate to do so, publish the results of any such research or arrange for them to be published. (2) The ONR may make payments for research to be carried out in connection with the ONR's purposes and for the dissemination of information derived from such research. (3) The ONR may provide, or make arrangements for the provision of, training to any person in connection with the ONR's purposes. (4) Arrangements under subsection (3) may include provision for payments to be made to the ONR by or on behalf of— (a) other parties to the arrangements, (b) persons to whom the training is provided.

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89 Provision of information or advice to relevant authorities

(1) The ONR must, on request, provide a relevant authority with relevant information or relevant advice. (2) Relevant information is information about the ONR's activities which is requested— (a) in the case of information requested by a Minister of the Crown— (i) for the purpose of monitoring the ONR's performance of its functions, or (ii) for the purpose of any proceedings in Parliament, (b) in any case, in connection with any matter with which the relevant authority requesting it is concerned. (3) The reference in subsection (2) to the ONR's activities includes a reference to— (a) the activities of inspectors appointed by the ONR under— (i) Schedule 8, (ii) section 19 of the 1974 Act, or (iii) Article 26 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1541), in their capacity as such inspectors, and (b) the activities of enforcing officers appointed by the ONR under section 61(3) of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp. 5) in their capacity as such enforcing officers. (4) Relevant advice is advice on a matter with which the relevant authority requesting it is concerned where the matter— (a) is relevant to the ONR's purposes, or (b) is one on which expert advice is obtainable from any member or member of staff of the ONR. (5) The ONR may require a relevant authority to whom information or advice is provided under subsection (1) to pay a fee in respect of the ONR's costs reasonably incurred in providing the authority with— (a) relevant information requested under subsection (2)(b), or (b) relevant advice. (6) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that subsection (5) is not to apply in particular cases or classes of case or in particular circumstances. (7) The duty under subsection (1) is in addition to any other duty or power of the ONR to provide information or advice. (8) In this section “relevant authority” means any of the following— (a) a Minister of the Crown; (b) the Scottish Ministers; (c) the Welsh Ministers; (d) a Northern Ireland Department; (e) the Health and Safety Executive; (f) the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland; (g) the Civil Aviation Authority; (h) the Office of Rail and Road. (i) a person appointed by regulations under section 16 of the Space Industry Act 2018.

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90 Arrangements with government departments etc

(1) If the condition in subsection (2) is met, the ONR may enter into an agreement with a Minister of the Crown, a government department or a public authority for the ONR to perform any function exercisable by the Minister, department or authority. (2) The condition is that— (a) the function is— (i) a function of the Health and Safety Executive of investigating or making a special report under section 14 of the 1974 Act, or (ii) a function of the Office of Rail and Road of investigating or making a special report under paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the Railways Act 2005, or (b) the Secretary of State considers that the function in question can appropriately be performed by the ONR. (3) The functions to which an agreement under subsection (1) may relate— (a) in the case of an agreement with a Minister of the Crown, include a function not conferred by an enactment; (b) do not include any power to make regulations or other instruments of a legislative character. (4) An agreement under subsection (1) may provide for functions to be performed with or without payment. (5) The ONR may provide services or facilities, with or without payment, otherwise than for the ONR's purposes, to a government department or public authority in connection with the exercise of that department's or authority's functions.

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91 Provision of services or facilities

(1) The ONR may provide services and facilities for the ONR's purposes to any person. (2) The ONR may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, provide any relevant services to any person, whether or not in the United Kingdom. (3) In subsection (2), “relevant services” means services which— (a) are not relevant to the ONR's purposes, but (b) are in a field in which any member or member of staff of the ONR has particular expertise. (4) The Secretary of State may give consent for the purposes of subsection (2)— (a) in relation to particular arrangements for the provision of services, or (b) generally in relation to such arrangements of a particular description. (5) Arrangements for the provision of services to a person under subsection (2) are to be on such terms as to payment as that person and the ONR may agree.

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92 Directions from Secretary of State

(1) The Secretary of State may give the ONR a direction as to the exercise by it of— (a) its functions generally, or (b) any of its functions specifically. (2) A direction given by the Secretary of State under subsection (1)— (a) may modify a function of the ONR, but (b) must not confer functions on the ONR (other than a function of which it was deprived by a previous direction given under this section). (3) The Secretary of State may give the ONR such directions as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or desirable in the interests of national security. (4) A direction given by the Secretary of State under subsection (3) may— (a) modify a function of the ONR, (b) confer a function on the ONR. (5) A direction under subsection (1) or (3) must not be given in relation to the exercise of a regulatory function in a particular case. (6) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances relating to national security which justify giving a direction under this subsection, the Secretary of State may give the ONR a direction as to the exercise by the ONR of a regulatory function in a particular case. (7) A direction given under subsection (6) must be for the nuclear security purposes. (8) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a copy of any direction given under this section. (9) Subsection (8) does not apply to a direction under subsection (6) if the Secretary of State considers that publishing the direction would be contrary to the interests of national security; but, in that event, the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a memorandum stating that such a direction has been given and the date on which it was given.

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93 Compliance with nuclear safeguards obligations

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94 Consent of Secretary of State for certain communications

(1) The ONR must not issue any communication to which this section applies except with the consent of the Secretary of State. (2) This section applies to— (a) any— (i) security guidance, or (ii) statement of the ONR's nuclear security policy, that the ONR considers concerns any matter to which any government policy on national security relates; (b) any other communication of a description that the Secretary of State has directed should be submitted to the Secretary of State before being issued. This is subject to subsection (3). (3) This section does not apply to— (a) a code of practice issued under section 79; (b) the ONR's strategy or annual plan or a report under paragraph 24 of Schedule 7; (c) advice given in a particular case. (4) In this section— “government policy on national security” means any current policy which relates to national security and— has been published by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, or has been notified to the ONR by the Secretary of State; “security guidance” means any guidance to which the ONR's nuclear security policy is relevant; “the ONR's nuclear security policy” means the ONR's policy with respect to the exercise of its functions, or the functions of inspectors, so far as relevant to the nuclear security purposes. (5) The Secretary of State may give a direction under subsection (2)(b) in relation to a description of communication only if it appears to the Secretary of State— (a) that— (i) a communication of that description might contain security guidance or information about the ONR's nuclear security policy, or (ii) the ONR's nuclear security policy might otherwise be relevant to such a communication, and (b) that such a communication might concern any matter to which any government policy on national security relates. (6) The Secretary of State may give the ONR a general consent in relation to the issue of a particular description of communication which would otherwise fall within subsection (2)(a). (7) If the Secretary of State has given such a general consent, the ONR need not seek the Secretary of State's particular consent in relation to the issue of a communication of that description unless directed by the Secretary of State to do so.

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95 Power to arrange for exercise of functions by others

(1) If the condition in subsection (2) is satisfied, the ONR may make arrangements with a government department or other person for that department or person to perform any of the ONR's functions, with or without payment. (2) That condition is that the Secretary of State considers that the function or functions in question can appropriately be performed by the government department or other person.

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96 Co-operation between ONR and Health and Safety Executive

(1) The Health and Safety Executive and the ONR must enter into and maintain arrangements with each other for securing co-operation and the exchange of information in connection with the carrying out of any of their functions. (2) The Health and Safety Executive and the ONR must— (a) review the arrangements from time to time, and (b) revise them when they consider it appropriate to do so.

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97 Power to obtain information

(1) The ONR may by notice require a person to provide information which the ONR needs for carrying out its functions. This is subject to subsection (4). (2) A notice may require information to be provided— (a) in a specified form or manner; (b) at a specified time; (c) in respect of a specified period. (3) In particular, a notice may require the person to whom it is given to make returns to the ONR containing information about matters specified in the notice at times or intervals so specified. (4) No notice may be given under this section which imposes a requirement which could be imposed by a notice served by the ONR under section 2 of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000 (information and records for purposes of the Additional Protocol). (5) It is an offence to refuse or fail to comply with a notice under this section. (6) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable— (a) on summary conviction, to— (i) in England and Wales, a fine, or (ii) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

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98 Powers of HMRC in relation to information

(1) The Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may disclose information about imports to— (a) the ONR, (b) an inspector, or (c) a health and safety inspector, for the purpose of facilitating the ONR, inspector or health and safety inspector to carry out any function. (2) For this purpose, “information about imports” means information obtained or held by the Commissioners for the purposes of the exercise of their functions in relation to imports. (3) Information may be disclosed to the ONR, an inspector or a health and safety inspector under subsection (1) whether or not the disclosure of the information has been requested by or on behalf of the ONR, inspector or health and safety inspector.

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99 HMRC power to seize articles etc to facilitate ONR and inspectors

(1) An officer of Revenue and Customs may seize any imported article or substance and detain it for the purpose of facilitating the ONR or an inspector to carry out any function under the relevant statutory provisions. (2) It is an offence for a person intentionally to obstruct an officer of Revenue and Customs in the exercise of powers under subsection (1). (3) A person who commits an offence under subsection (2) is liable on summary conviction— (a) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks (in England and Wales), 12 months (in Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland), (b) to— (i) in England and Wales, a fine, or (ii) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or (c) to both. (4) In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for summary offences), the reference in subsection (3)(a), as it has effect in England and Wales, to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months. (5) Anything seized and detained under subsection (1)— (a) must not be detained for more than 2 working days, and (b) must be dealt with during the period of detention in such manner as the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may direct. (6) In subsection (5), the reference to 2 working days is a reference to the period of 48 hours beginning when the article or substance in question is seized but disregarding any time falling on a Saturday or Sunday, or on Good Friday or Christmas Day or on a day which is a bank holiday in the part of the United Kingdom where it is seized.

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100 Disclosure of information

Schedule 9 (disclosure of information) has effect.

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101 Fees

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for fees to be payable for, or in connection with, the performance of any of the following functions (whenever conferred)— (a) any function of the ONR or an inspector under any of the relevant statutory provisions; (b) any function of the ONR under regulations under section 80 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (prohibition of disclosures of uranium enrichment technology); (c) any function of any other person under any of the relevant statutory provisions. (2) The amount of any fee under regulations under this section must be— (a) specified in the regulations, or (b) determined by or in accordance with the regulations. (3) Regulations under this section may provide for the amounts of fees to be different in different cases and, in particular, for fees in respect of the same function to be of different amounts in different circumstances. (4) Regulations under this section may not provide for a fee to be payable by anyone in the capacity of— an employee, a person seeking employment, a person training for employment, or a person seeking training for employment. (5) For the purposes of subsection (4)— (a) “employee” and “employment” have the same meanings as in Part 1 of the 1974 Act, and (b) an industrial rehabilitation course provided by virtue of the Employment and Training Act 1973 is to be treated as training for employment. (6) Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult— (a) the ONR, and (b) such other persons (if any) as the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to consult. (7) Subsection (6)(a) does not apply if the regulations give effect, without modification, to any proposals submitted by the ONR under section 81(1)(a)(iii).

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102 General duty of employees at work in relation to requirements imposed on others

(1) Every employee, while at work, must co-operate with any person (whether or not the employer) on whom a requirement is imposed by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions so far as necessary to enable the requirement to be complied with. (2) Failure to comply with the duty in subsection (1) is an offence. (3) A person who commits an offence under subsection (2) is liable— (a) on summary conviction— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland), (ii) to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or (iii) to both; (b) on conviction on indictment— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, (ii) to a fine, or (iii) to both. (4) In the application of this section in England and Wales, the reference in subsection (3)(a)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022). (5) In this section— (a) “employee” and “employer” have the same meanings as in Part 1 of the 1974 Act (see section 53(1) of that Act), ... (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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103 Duty not to interfere with or misuse certain things provided under statutory requirements

(1) It is an offence intentionally or recklessly to interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare in pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions. (2) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable— (a) on summary conviction— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland), (ii) to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding £20,000 (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or (iii) to both; (b) on conviction on indictment— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, (ii) to a fine, or (iii) to both. (3) In the application of this section in England and Wales, the reference in subsection (2)(a)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022).

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104 Duty not to charge employees for certain things

(1) It is an offence for an employer to impose a charge, or allow a charge to be imposed, on an employee in respect of anything done or provided in pursuance of a specific requirement imposed by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions. (2) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable— (a) on summary conviction to— (i) in England and Wales, a fine, or (ii) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding £20,000; (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine. (3) In this section— (a) “employer” and “employee” have the same meanings as in Part 1 of the 1974 Act (see section 53(1) of that Act), ... (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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105 Offences relating to false information and deception

(1) It is an offence for a person— (a) to make a statement which the person knows to be false, or (b) recklessly to make a statement which is false, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2). (2) Those circumstances are where the statement is made— (a) in purported compliance with any requirement to provide information imposed by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, or (b) for the purposes of obtaining the issue of a document under any of the relevant statutory provisions (whether for the person making the statement or anyone else). (3) It is an offence for a person— (a) intentionally to make a false entry in a relevant document, or (b) with intent to deceive, to make use of any such entry which the person knows to be false. (4) In subsection (3) “relevant document” means any register, record, notice or other document which is required to be kept or given by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions. (5) It is an offence for a person, with intent to deceive— (a) to use a relevant document, (b) to make or have possession of a document so closely resembling a relevant document as to be calculated to deceive. (6) In subsection (5) “relevant document” means a document— (a) issued or authorised to be issued under any of the relevant statutory provisions, or (b) required for the purpose of any of those provisions. (7) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable— (a) on summary conviction— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland), (ii) to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding £20,000 (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or (iii) to both; (b) on conviction on indictment— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, (ii) to a fine, or (iii) to both. (8) In the application of this section in England and Wales, the reference in subsection (7)(a)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022).

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106 Provision relating to offences under certain relevant statutory provisions

(1) Schedule 10 (provision relating to offences under certain relevant statutory provisions) has effect. (2) That Schedule contains provision about the following matters— (a) the place where an offence involving plant or a substance may be treated as having been committed; (b) the extension of time for bringing summary proceedings in certain cases; (c) the continuation of offences; (d) where an offence committed by one person is due to the act or default of another person, the liability of that other person; (e) offences by bodies corporate or partnerships; (f) restrictions on the persons who may institute proceedings in England and Wales; (g) powers of inspectors to prosecute offences; (h) the burden of proof in certain cases relating to what is practicable or what are the best means for doing something; (i) reliance on entries in a register or other document as evidence; (j) power of the court to order a defendant to take remedial action.

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107 Civil liability: saving for section 12 of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965

Nothing in this Part affects the operation of section 12 of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (right to compensation by virtue of certain provisions of that Act).

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108 Reporting requirements of Secretary of State

(1) As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the financial year, the Secretary of State must make a report to each House of Parliament on the use of the Secretary of State's powers under this Part during the year. (2) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of any such report before Parliament.

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109 Notices etc

(1) In this section references to a notice are to a notice or other document that is required or authorised to be given to any person under a relevant provision. (2) A notice to the person must be in writing. (3) A notice may be given by— (a) delivering it to the person, (b) leaving it at the person's proper address, (c) sending it by post to the person at that address, or (d) in the case of a notice to be given to the owner or occupier of any premises (whether or not a body corporate), in accordance with subsection (9), (10) or (11). (4) A notice may— (a) in the case of a body corporate, be given in accordance with subsection (3) to a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, and (b) in the case of a partnership, be given in accordance with subsection (3) to a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business or, in Scotland, the firm. (5) For the purposes of this section and section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (service of documents by post) in its application to this section, the “proper address” is— (a) in the case of a notice to be given to a body corporate or an officer of the body, the address of the registered or principal office of the body; (b) in the case of a notice to be given to a partnership, a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business, the address of the principal office of the partnership; (c) in any other case, the last known address of the person to whom the notice is to be given. (6) For the purposes of subsection (5), the principal office of a company registered outside the United Kingdom or of a partnership carrying on business outside the United Kingdom is its principal office within the United Kingdom. (7) Subsection (8) applies if— (a) a person has specified an address in the United Kingdom as one at which the person, or someone on the person's behalf, will accept documents of the same description as a notice, and (b) the address so specified is not the person's proper address (as determined under subsection (5)). (8) The specified address is also to be treated as the person's proper address for the purposes of this section and section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 in its application to this section. (9) A notice that is to be given to the owner or occupier of any premises may be given by— (a) sending it by post to the person at those premises, or (b) addressing it by name to the person and delivering it to some responsible person who is or appears to be resident or employed at the premises. (10) If the name or address of an owner or occupier of premises cannot be ascertained after reasonable inquiry, a notice to the owner or occupier may be given by— (a) addressing it by the description “owner” or “occupier” of the premises to which the notice relates (and describing the premises), and (b) delivering it to some responsible person who is or appears to be resident or employed there. (11) If there is no person as mentioned in subsection (10)(b), then the notice may be given by fixing it, or a copy of it, to some conspicuous part of the premises. (12) This section is subject to provision made in regulations under this Part in respect of notices given under the regulations. (13) In this section— “director”, in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate; “employed” has the same meaning as in the 1974 Act; “relevant provision” means any of the relevant statutory provisions other than a provision of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000; and references to giving a notice include similar expressions (such as serving or sending).

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110 Electronic delivery of notices etc

(1) This section applies where— (a) section 109 authorises the giving of a notice or other document by its delivery to a particular person (“the recipient”), and (b) the notice or other document is transmitted to the recipient— (i) by means of an electronic communications network, or (ii) by other means but in a form that requires the use of apparatus by the recipient to render it intelligible. (2) The transmission has effect for the purposes of section 109 as a delivery of the notice or other document to the recipient, but only if the recipient has indicated to the person making the transmission (“the sender”) a willingness to receive the notice or other document in the form and manner used. (3) An indication to the sender for the purposes of subsection (2)— (a) must be given to the sender in such manner as the sender may require, (b) may be a general indication or an indication that is limited to notices or other documents of a particular description, (c) must state the address to be used, (d) must be accompanied by such other information as the sender requires for the making of the transmission, and (e) may be modified or withdrawn at any time by a notice given to the sender in such manner as the sender may require. (4) In this section “electronic communications network” has the same meaning as in the Communications Act 2003; and the reference to giving a notice is to be read in accordance with section 109.

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111 Crown application: Part 3

(1) Subject as follows, this Part, and regulations made under it, bind the Crown. (2) Part 2 of Schedule 8 (inspectors: improvement and prohibition notices) does not bind the Crown. (3) Any other provision of, or of regulations under, this Part under which a person may be prosecuted for an offence— (a) does not bind the Crown, but (b) applies to persons in the public service of the Crown as it applies to other persons. (4) So far as it applies to nuclear regulations, subsection (3) is subject to any provision made by those regulations. (5) For the purposes of this Part and regulations made under this Part, persons in the service of the Crown are to be treated as employees of the Crown (whether or not they would be so treated apart from this subsection). (6) The Secretary of State may, by order— (a) amend this section so as to provide for any provision made by or under this Part to apply to the Crown, or not to apply to the Crown, to any extent; (b) amend any provision of sections 68 to 73 so far as it affects the extent to which any of the ONR's purposes relates to the Crown or any of the purposes of the Crown. (7) Provision that may be made under subsection (6) includes in particular provision altering whether, or the extent to which, any of the ONR's purposes relates to— (a) sites or premises used or occupied by the Crown, (b) sites controlled or occupied to any extent for defence purposes (within the meaning of section 70), or (c) transport for those purposes. (8) Nothing in this section authorises proceedings to be brought against Her Majesty in her private capacity (within the meaning of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947).

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112 Interpretation of Part 3

(1) In this Part— “the 1974 Act” means the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; “approved code of practice” has the meaning given by section 79(3); “financial year”, in relation to the ONR, has the meaning given by paragraph 28 of Schedule 7; “health and safety inspector” means a person appointed by the ONR under section 19 of the 1974 Act; “improvement notice” has the meaning given by paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 8; “inspector” means an inspector appointed under Part 1 of Schedule 8 (unless otherwise specified); “member of staff”, in relation to the ONR, is to be read in accordance with paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 7; “modify” includes amend, repeal or revoke (and “modification” is to be read accordingly); “nuclear regulations” has the meaning given by section 74(1); “nuclear safeguards regulations” means regulations under section 76A(1); “nuclear site” means— a site in respect of which a nuclear site licence is in force, or a site in respect of which a period of responsibility has not ended; “nuclear site licence” has the same meaning as in the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (see section 1 of that Act); “ONR” means the Office for Nuclear Regulation; “ONR inquiry” has the meaning given by section 85(2); “period of responsibility”, in relation to a site, means the period of responsibility (within the meaning given in section 5 of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (revocation and surrender of licences)) in respect of a nuclear site licence granted at any time in respect of the site; “personal injury” includes— any disease, and any impairment of a person's physical or mental condition; “prohibition notice” has the meaning given by paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 8; “regulatory function”, in relation to the ONR, means— a function of giving or revoking permission or approval in relation to any material, premises or activity; a function of imposing conditions or requirements in relation to any material, premises or activity; a function, other than a function under section 84 (investigations), which relates to securing, monitoring or investigating compliance with conditions or requirements (however imposed) in relation to any material, premises or activity; a function which relates to the enforcement of such requirements; “relevant international agreement” has the meaning given by subsection (1A); “relevant power” has the meaning given by paragraph 2 of Schedule 8; “relevant statutory provisions” has the meaning given by section 82(2) (unless otherwise specified). (1A) Relevant international agreement” means an agreement (whether or not ratified) to which the United Kingdom is a party and which— (a) relates to nuclear safeguards, and (b) is specified in regulations under subsection (1B), and a reference in this Part to a relevant international agreement is to the agreement as it has effect for the time being. (1B) The Secretary of State may by regulations specify agreements for the purposes of subsection (1A)(b). (1C) References in subsection (1A) to an agreement to which the United Kingdom is a party include an undertaking given by the United Kingdom which— (a) relates to guidance or any other document issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and (b) is notified to the Agency by the United Kingdom, (and the reference in subsection (1B) to an agreement is to be read accordingly). (1D) Before making regulations under subsection (1B), the Secretary of State must consult— (a) the ONR, and (b) such other persons (if any) as the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to consult. (1E) Subsection (1D)(a) does not apply if the regulations give effect, without modification, to proposals submitted by the ONR under section 81(1)(a)(iiia). (2) The following apply for the purposes of this Part as they apply for the purposes of Part 1 of the 1974 Act— (a) section 52(1) of that Act (meaning of “work” and “at work”); (b) the power conferred by section 52(2)(a) of that Act to extend the meaning of “work” and “at work”.

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113 Subordinate legislation under Part 3

(1) Any power to make subordinate legislation under this Part is exercisable by statutory instrument. (2) An instrument containing (whether alone or with other provision)— (a) nuclear regulations , or nuclear safeguards regulations, which fall within subsection (3), ... (aa) regulations under section 76A(7), (b) an order under section 111, or (c) regulations under section 112(1B), may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament. (3) Nuclear regulations or nuclear safeguards regulations fall within this subsection if— (a) they are the first nuclear regulations or nuclear safeguards regulations to be made, (b) they include provision amending or repealing any provision of— (i) the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, or (ii) the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000, or (c) they include provision creating a new offence by virtue of section 75; and for this purpose nuclear regulations or nuclear safeguards regulations which revoke and re-enact an offence are not to be regarded as creating a new offence. (4) An instrument containing an order under paragraph 26 of Schedule 7 (payments and borrowing) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the House of Commons. (5) An instrument containing any other subordinate legislation under this Part is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. (6) Any power to make subordinate legislation under this Part includes power— (a) to make different provision for different cases; (b) to make provision for some cases only or subject to exceptions; (c) to make provision generally or only in particular respects. (7) Any subordinate legislation under this Part may include— (a) consequential, incidental or supplementary provision; (b) transitional, transitory or saving provision. (8) In this section “subordinate legislation” means an Order in Council, an order or regulations. (9) In relation to any modification of a provision of, or made under, any of the provisions of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 that are relevant statutory provisions, the power conferred by subsection (7)(a) includes power to extend the modification to Northern Ireland for the purpose of ensuring that the text of the provision is uniform throughout the United Kingdom (but does not include power to alter the effect of the provision in relation to a site in Northern Ireland).

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114 Transitional provision etc

(1) The Secretary of State may by order make any transitional, transitory or saving provision which appears appropriate in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, this Part. (2) The provision which may be made by virtue of subsection (1) includes, in particular— (a) provision modifying any provision made by— (i) primary legislation passed before the end of the session in which this Act was passed, or (ii) an instrument made before the end of that session; (b) provision for treating any regulations within subsection (3) as— (i) relevant statutory provisions (or as relevant statutory provisions of a particular description), (ii) regulations under section 85, or (iii) regulations under section 101. (3) The regulations mentioned in subsection (2)(b) are regulations made under a provision within subsection (4) so far as they relate to, or to fees payable in respect of functions which relate to, any of the following purposes— (a) the nuclear safety purposes; (b) the nuclear security purposes; (c) the nuclear safeguards purposes; (d) the transport purposes. (4) The provisions mentioned in subsection (3) are— (a) section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (general implementation of Treaties); (b) section 14 of the 1974 Act (power to direct investigations and inquiries); (c) section 15 of that Act (health and safety regulations); (d) section 43 of that Act (fees); (e) section 3 of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000 (identifying persons who have information); (f) section 77 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (regulation of security of civil nuclear industry). (5) Provision made under this section is additional, and without prejudice, to that made by or under any other provision of this Act.

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115 Transfer of staff etc

Schedule 11 (which makes provision about schemes to transfer staff etc to the ONR) has effect.

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116 Minor and consequential amendments

(1) Schedule 12 (minor and consequential amendments related to Part 3) has effect. (2) The Secretary of State may by order make such modifications of— (a) primary legislation passed before the end of the session in which this Act is passed, or (b) an instrument made before the end of that session, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of this Part. (3) The power in subsection (2) includes power to make modifications of— (a) paragraphs 17 to 30 of Schedule 12 (amendments of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965), or (b) the provisions of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 that are amended by those paragraphs. (4) The power conferred by virtue of subsection (3) is exercisable— (a) before or after the date on which those paragraphs come into force, and (b) only for the purpose of making provision corresponding to any amendments of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 set out in an order made before that date (whether before or after this Act is passed) under section 76 of the Energy Act 2004 (amendments for giving effect to international obligations).

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117 Application of Part 3

(1) Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide that the provisions of this Part apply, so far as specified, in relation to persons, premises, activities, articles, substances or other matters, outside the United Kingdom as they apply within the United Kingdom or a specified part of the United Kingdom. (2) Such an Order in Council may— (a) provide for any provisions of this Part to apply subject to modifications; (b) provide for any of those provisions, as applied by the Order, to apply— (i) in relation to individuals, whether or not they are British citizens, and (ii) in relation to bodies corporate, whether or not they are incorporated under the law of a part of the United Kingdom; (c) make provision for conferring jurisdiction on a specified court or courts of a specified description in respect of— (i) offences under this Part committed outside the United Kingdom, or (ii) causes of action under section 76 in respect of acts or omissions that occur outside the United Kingdom; (d) make provision for questions arising out of any acts or omissions mentioned in paragraph (c)(ii) to be determined in accordance with the law in force in any specified part of the United Kingdom; (e) exclude from the operation of section 3 of the Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878 (consents required for prosecutions) proceedings for offences under any provision of this Part committed outside the United Kingdom. (3) In this section “specified”, in relation to an Order in Council, means specified in the Order. (4) Nothing in this section affects the application outside the United Kingdom of any provision of, or made under, this Part which so applies otherwise than by virtue of an Order in Council under this section.

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