Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reasons safety limits at Dungeness nuclear power station were set at their present level.

The UK's nuclear licensing regime, which is underpinned by Statute, requires nuclear facility operators to put in place arrangements to protect the health and safety of workers and the wider public from the hazards of the industry. Such arrangements are set out in safety cases which are subject to review by the independent nuclear regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

The law requires that the Licensee demonstrates, via the safety case of which safety limits are part, that risks have been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). Therefore ONR does not set safety limits but reviews key parts of the safety case to ensure the ALARP principle has been met.

The ONR assessed the relevant aspects of the safety case for Dungeness B and was satisfied that the licensee had demonstrated that the proposed changes were acceptable. Similarly, ONR carries out assessment of safety cases submitted by all licensees to satisfy itself that the justification made, in support of the safety limits, is adequate. The ONR would not allow continued operation of any civil nuclear site unless it was safe to do so.