I am making this statement to bring to the House’s attention the following machinery of government change.

As part of the reforms the Government are making to nuclear regulation, I am today announcing that responsibility for the Office for Nuclear Regulation will transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. As the lead Department for civil nuclear policy, DESNZ will be best placed to ensure that nuclear regulation is proportionate and suited to deliver the UK’s long-term nuclear ambitions, supporting the Government’s broader response to the nuclear regulatory review 2025. The ONR’s statutory independence will be unaffected by this change.

This change will take effect from 1 August 2026.

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