Clause 55 - The Civil Nuclear Constabulary
Energy Bill [Lords]
3:30 pm
Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry; East Ham, Labour)
The clause requires the civil nuclear police authority to maintain the civil nuclear constabulary, and it sets out the constabulary's
primary functions. The hon. Gentleman is particularly interested in subsection (2), and, if I have written his questions down correctly, the answers are as follows.
The members of the constabulary can accompany nuclear material when it is in transit; that is the intention of the clause's drafting. British Transport police have been consulted on these arrangements, and I am satisfied that there is no unnecessary duplication between the duties of the civil nuclear constabulary and others.
The duties of the civil nuclear constabulary would not extend to the protection of MOD sites, which answers the hon. Gentleman's second question. Thirdly, it is envisaged that there will be occasions when members of the civil nuclear constabulary will safeguard material outside Great Britain—for example, when there is a shipment they will be able to accompany the material and provide protection in that way.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 55 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 56 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Schedule 11 agreed to.
Clauses 57 and 58 ordered to stand part of the Bill.