ABSTRACT
The legislative basis for nuclear safety in the United Kingdom lies in the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974 and the included relevant statutory provisions of the Nuclear Installations (NI) Act 1965. These statutes require that, before any commercial nuclear plant may be built or operated in the UK, a licence must be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The division responsible for this licensing work is HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII). Under the Acts the basic responsibility for nuclear safety rests with the licensee. The NII’s task is to assure the HSE, Ministers, and hence the public, that the licensee is suitable and competent and is exercising this responsibility satisfactorily through all stages from design and construction to operation and eventual decommissioning.
