1 April 2011 - Launch of the Office for Nuclear Regulation
On 1 April 2011 the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) was launched as an agency of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), pending planned legislation to establish it as a statutory body. The ONR will bring together the safety and security functions of HSE’s Nuclear Directorate (incorporating the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security and the UK Safeguards Office) and, from summer 2011, the Department for Transport’s Radioactive Materials Transport Division.
Nick Baldwin, former chief executive of Powergen, has been confirmed as the interim Chair of the ONR. The appointment is expected to be for a period of 2-3 years, pending the successful passage of legislation to establish the ONR on a statutory basis.
8 February 2011 - Creation of the Office for Nuclear Regulation
On 8 February 2011 the Government announced the creation of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). A joint initiative between DECC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the ONR will retain the best of current practice whilst creating a modern regulator based on the better regulation principles of Transparency, accountability, proportionality and consistency. The ONR will be well placed to respond quickly and flexibly to current and future regulatory challenges.
A Written Ministerial Statement given to Parliament by Chris Grayling, Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, announcing the creation of the ONR is now available on the Parliament.uk: Written Ministerial Statements for 8 February 2011 web page.