| Short Title: | Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 |
| Type: | Act |
| Parliament: | Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Long Title: | An 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. |
| Year: | 1954 |
| Citation: | 2 & 3 Eliz. 2. c. 32 |
| Introduced Commons: | Second Reading 1 March 1954 by the Minister of Works (Sir David Eccles) |
| Royal Assent: | 4 June 1954 |
| Status: | amended |
The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 (2 & 3 Eliz. 2. c. 32) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which established the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority with powers to produce, use and dispose of atomic energy and to carry out research into this and related matters.
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.[1] The 1946 Act had transferred the responsibility for work on atomic energy from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to the Ministry of Supply.[2] 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. 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.
The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 (c. 32) received royal assent on 4 June 1954.[3] Its long title is: ‘An 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.’
The Act comprises 10 sections and 3 schedules.
Schedules
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".[4]
The UKAEA developed a civil nuclear reactor programme including two nuclear power stations in 1957 (Berkeley and Bradwell), a further two in 1959 and eight more in the early 1960s.[5]
The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 was amended by the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1959 (8 & 9 Eliz. 2. c. 5); by the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1986 (c. 3); and by the Atomic Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1981 (c. 48).