# Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971

The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971 (c. 11) is an act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The principal effect of the act was to transfer certain functions, property and responsibilities of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to two newly established organisations, namely the British Nuclear Fuels Limited and The Radiochemical Centre Limited.

## Rationale

The government believed the Fuel Production Group and the Radiochemical Centre of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority would be better served if they were run as ordinary companies with powers to raise capital and enter into partnerships.

## Provisions

The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971 (c. 11) received royal assent on 16 March 1971.
The act comprises 25 Sections in four Parts, plus one Schedule.
Transfer of parts of Authority's undertaking
* 1. Transfer of part of Authority's undertaking to Nuclear Fuels Company
* 2. Transfer of part of Authority's undertaking to Radiochemical Company
* 3. Exclusions from transfers in respect of patents and other industrial property
* 4. Use of certain lands, premises, apparatus, facilities and services
* 5. Powers of Secretary of State in relation to transfers under sections 1 and 2
* 6. Supplementary provisions relating to transfers
* 7. Issue of shares in consideration of transfers
Provisions as to employees
* 8. Employees in transferred parts of undertaking
* 9. Machinery for settling terms and conditions of employment
* 10. Supplementary provisions relating to contracts of employment
Control and finances of the companies
* 11. Provisions as to shares in the companies
* 12. Loans by Secretary of State to the companies
* 13. Limits on payments under Sections 11 and 12
* 14. Accounts of companies to be laid before Parliament
* 15. Powers for Authority to provide services and facilities for the companies
* 16. Treatment of transferred assets for purposes of investment grants
Miscellaneous and supplementary provisions
* 17. Permits under Nuclear Installations Act 1965, Section 2
* 18. Inspection of factories, works and offices on sites for which permits are in force
* 19. Application of security provisions to companies established in connection with agreement on gas centrifuge process
* 20. Pension schemes
* 21. Savings and transitional provisions
* 22. Stamp duty
* 23. Financial provisions
* 24. Interpretation and supplementary provisions
* 25. Short title and extent
Schedule
Insert as Schedule 1 to the Nuclear Installations Act 1965

## Consequences of the act

British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) was established in February 1971. Under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971 the nuclear fuel business of the Production Group of the UKAEA was transferred to BNFL. This included the nuclear fuel and weapons material producing activities and the Calder Hall and Chapelcross nuclear stations, together with the facilities at Capenhurst, Springfields and Windscale. BNFL started independent activity on 1 April 1971. At the same time the production of medical and industrial radioisotopes was transferred from UKAEA to the Radiochemical Centre Limited which became Amersham International Limited in 1981. Following these demergers the UKAEA remit was solely for atomic energy research activities.
Various sections and subsections of the 1971 Act have been repealed.