This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill on 7 February 2018.
Nuclear Safeguards Bill (320KB PDF)
The Nuclear Safeguards Bill is a government bill introduced in the House of Commons on 11 October 2017. The Bill passed its House of Commons stages without being amended. It received first reading in the House of Lords on 24 January 2018.
The Bill is one of a number of the so-called ‘Brexit bills’ in the 2017 Queen’s Speech. In 2017, the Government confirmed that the UK would be leaving Euratom as a result of its departure from the EU. The purpose of the Bill is to enable the Secretary of State to establish a new domestic safeguarding regime for the UK’s civil nuclear industry following the UK’s departure from Euratom. For this purpose, the Bill provides for the expansion of the remit of the UK regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and would enable the UK to enter new bilateral international treaties on nuclear safeguarding outside Euratom.
The UK, as a signatory to the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has responsibility to safeguard against civilian nuclear material being diverted into military or weapons programmes. Since it entered Euratom in 1973, the UK has relied upon Euratom to help maintain safeguarding standards. The Government has stated its wish to retain a close relationship with Euratom once it ceases to be a member in March 2019. However, the Government has argued that the establishment of the UK’s own independent safeguarding regime was an important contingency measure in case such an arrangement with Euratom could not be agreed.
The Opposition has stated its support for the principle aim of the Bill. However, a number of concerns were raised in the Commons, including regarding the capacity of the ONR to take on new safeguarding responsibilities under the Bill. The Opposition also criticised the Henry VIII powers that would be granted to the Secretary of State.
This Briefing provides a summary of scrutiny of the Bill in the House of Commons, including at report stage and third reading. It should be read in conjunction with the Explanatory Notes to the Bill, produced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Nuclear Safeguards Bill (320KB PDF)
The UK is a signatory to the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. The commission would assess claims for compensation for damage and losses caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has broadly welcomed the convention, but also raised concerns about the scope and efficacy of the commission.
Recent tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina have raised concerns about stability and security in the country, particularly due to reports of external influence and recent secessionist rhetoric in Republika Srpska. This briefing outlines recent developments, international responses and the UK government’s position on Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of a House of Lords debate on the subject.
In recent years, electricity prices for both households and businesses have seen significant increases. This briefing sets out how electricity bills are calculated, how much on average they cost and how they compare internationally. It also provides commentary on why prices have been so high and gives an overview of government policy in this area.
