Clause 67 - Civil Nuclear Police Federation
Energy Bill [Lords]
4:15 pm

Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

My question concerns the rights of the members of the constabulary. What is their position if they identify a practice, process or individual act that they regard as inappropriate and believe should be investigated? If they exercise the right to report that, but the practice, process or act is not corrected, where do they stand in terms of the Official Secrets Act or their code of conduct? What is their position if they want to draw to the attention of the public, a Select Committee or another body their legitimate concerns about radioactive or nuclear matters that have not been satisfactorily dealt with internally?

Mr Nigel Griffiths (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Edinburgh South, Labour)

The clause sets out the role and responsibilities of the Civil Nuclear Police Federation in similar terms to those of other statutory federations and follows closely the precedent of section 59 of the Police Act 1996. It enables the Secretary of State to give statutory recognition to the Civil Nuclear Police Federation to represent members of the constabulary in matters affecting welfare and efficiency. That role is currently undertaken by the UKEA Police Federation, which is a non-statutory body, although it has sole negotiating rights for members of the constabulary. I believe that the constabulary is covered by the whistleblowers Act, and I am happy to elaborate on that in writing if further clarification is required.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 67 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 68 to 72 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedule 14 agreed to.

Clauses 73 to 78 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedule 15 agreed to.

Clauses 79 to 81 ordered to stand part of the Bill.