The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 is an Act of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...
which established the
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ...
with powers to produce, use and dispose of atomic energy and to carry out research into this and related matters.
Background
From 1948 the regulation of atomic energy was principally governed by two Acts of Parliament: the Atomic Energy Act 1946, and the Radioactive Substances Act 1948.
The 1946 Act had transferred the responsibility for work on atomic energy from the ''
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, abbreviated DSIR was the name of several British Empire organisations founded after the 1923 Imperial Conference to foster intra-Empire trade and development.
* Department of Scientific and Industria ...
'' to the
Ministry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply (MoS) was a department of the UK government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. A separate ministry, however, was responsible for aircr ...
. In December 1953 Parliament agreed to the transfer of Ministerial responsibility for atomic energy from the Minister of Supply to the
Lord President of the Council
The lord president of the Council is the presiding officer of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and the fourth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State, ranking below the Lord High Treasurer but above the ...
. This was expedient as the Lord President was a senior member of the Cabinet who had no departmental interest in the use of atomic energy.
The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 further developed Government oversight, it transferred powers relating to research, development and disposal of radioactive substances from the Lord President to the new United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority established under the Act.
Under this arrangement the duties of the Minister and the Authority were clearly defined. Policy remained the responsibility of the Government while the Authority was given the freedom to operate that policy strategically and efficiently.
Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954
The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 (1954 c. 32) received
Royal Assent
Royal assent is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In some jurisdictions, royal assent is equivalent to promulgation, while in other ...
on 4 June 1954.
Its long title is: βAn Act to provide for the setting up of an Atomic Energy Authority for the United Kingdom, to make provision as to their powers, duties, rights and liabilities, to amend, consequentially on the establishment of and otherwise in connection with that Authority, the Atomic Energy Act, 1946, the Radioactive Substances Act, 1948, and certain other enactments, and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.β
Provisions
The Act comprises 10 Sections and 3 Schedules.
* Section 1. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Established the UKAEA, its chairman and members, remuneration.
* Section 2. Functions of the Authority. To produce, use and dispose of atomic energy and carry out research; to manufacture or otherwise produce any radioactive substances.
* Section 3. Power and duties of the Lord President of the Council in relation to the Authority. To promote and control the development of atomic energy; the power to give the Authority directions.
* Section 4. Financial provisions as to the Authority. The Lord President to pay the Authority monies provided by Parliament.
* Section 5. Powers as to purchase of land, carrying out works, etc. The Lord President may authorise the Authority to purchase compulsorily any land.
* Section 6. Miscellaneous provisions as to the Authority. Land to be deemed Crown property; application of Official Secrets Act 1911 to properties.
* Section 7. Machinery for settling terms and conditions of employment of staff, etc. Terms and conditions of employment; safety, health and welfare of persons
* Section 8. Interpretation. Interpretation of the Atomic Energy Act, 1946, and the Radioactive Substances Act, 1948.
* Section 9. Application to Northern Ireland. The Act applied to Northern Ireland.
* Section 10. Short title and citation. The Act may be cited as the Atomic Energy Authority Act, 1954
Schedules
* First schedule. Provisions as to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Comprising 9 paragraphs.
* Second schedule. Transfer of property rights and liabilities from the Lord President of the Council to the Authority. Comprising 4 paragraphs.
* Third schedule. Adaptations and Modifications of Enactments. The Atomic Energy Act 1946, the Radioactive Substances Act 1948, and the
Official Secrets Act 1911
The Official Secrets Act 1911 (1 & 2 Geo 5 c 28) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaces the Official Secrets Act 1889.
The Act was introduced in response to public alarm at reports of wide-scale espionage, some of them ...
, plus others
Aftermath
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) was established on 19 July 1954 with the power "to produce, use and dispose of atomic energy and carry out research into any matters therewith".
The UKAEA developed a civil nuclear reactor programme including two nuclear power stations in 1957 (
Berkeley
Berkeley most often refers to:
*Berkeley, California, a city in the United States
**University of California, Berkeley, a public university in Berkeley, California
* George Berkeley (1685β1753), Anglo-Irish philosopher
Berkeley may also refer ...
and
Bradwell), a further two in 1959 and eight more in the early 1960s.
The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 was amended by the
Atomic Energy Authority Act 1959
The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1959 ( 8 & 9 Eliz. 2. c. 5) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which amended and extended the constitution and powers of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
Background
The Atomic Energy A ...
c. 5; by the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1986 c. 3; and by the Atomic Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1981 c. 48.
See also
*
Atomic Energy Authority Act
Atomic Energy Authority Act (with its variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom relating to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
The Bill for an Act with this short title will have been known as a Atomic ...
*
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ...
*
Nuclear power in the United Kingdom
Nuclear power in the United Kingdom generated 16.1% of the country's electricity in 2020. , the UK has 9 operational nuclear reactors at five locations (8 advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR) and one pressurised water reactor (PWR)), producing 5. ...
*
Atomic Energy Research Establishment
The Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) was the main Headquarters, centre for nuclear power, atomic energy research and development in the United Kingdom from 1946 to the 1990s. It was created, owned and funded by the British Governm ...
References
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United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1954