Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the UK regulations for radiation protection and the control of radioactive substances will remain (1) effective, and (2) in line with internationally accepted standards facilitating international trade and cooperation, when the UK withdraws from the Euratom Treaty.

This Government remains absolutely committed to high standards of radiation protection for workers, the public and the environment after the UK’s withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty.

International standards for radiation protection and the control of radioactive substances are issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Irrespective of our future relationship with Euratom, we will continue to apply the international standards on nuclear safety and will remain accountable on nuclear safety matters through our membership of the IAEA.

These standards are reflected in Euratom’s nuclear safety legislation. A programme to update UK legislation to transpose the revised Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive, which sets out standards for radiation protection, is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.