1. Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, announced the UK will ‘continue to seek a close association with Euratom, including the possibility of future co-operation and nucelar non-proliferation and safeguards.’
This was announced in a written statement to Parliament on Euratom.
(Greg Clark MP, Energy Policy: Written Statement – HCWS586, 26 March 2018, link)
2. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said ‘substantial progress has been made in relation to Euratom as part of the “Separation Issues” (phase 1) negotiations with the European Union.’
The Department’s first quarterly update on the UK’s exit from the Euratom Treaty covers ‘overall progress on Government’s implementation of its Euratom strategy, including EU negotiations, domestic operational readiness, legislation, and international agreements.’
(Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Quarterly Update to Parliament on the Government’s Progress on the UK’s Exit from the Euratom Treaty, 27 March 2018, link)
3. The Nuclear Safeguards Bill will return to the House of Commons for consideration of Lords Amendments.
The Nuclear Safeguards Bill had its third reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday 27 March. It now returns to the House of Commons.
(Parliament News, Nuclear Safeguards Bill: Lords third reading, 28 March 2018, link)
4. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy concluded its consultation into revised requirements for radiological protection and regulation of public exposures.
The report concluded legislative amendments were required on dose limits, reference levels for public exposure, contaminated land, and public exposure to radon.
(Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Response to the Consultation on Revised Requirements for Radiological Protection: Regulation of Public Exposures and the Justification of Practices, 28 March 2018, link)
5. Heatric, ARC Energy Resources and RWs are developing new waste container conepts for the decommissioning programme at Sellafield.
These companies received grants from Sellafield’s Game Changers programme which is seeking new ideas and solutions to reduce costs and improve safety during decommissioning.
(Nuclear AMRC, Industry News, 27 March 2018, link)