About us
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-12)

The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) provides independent scrutiny and transparent advice to the UK governments on the long-term management of radioactive waste.

CoRWM is an expert committee sponsored by:
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero)
- Scottish Government (https://www.gov.scot/)
- Welsh Government (https://www.gov.wales/)
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/) - Northern Ireland
Who we are

CoRWM has 12 members, who are experts in different aspects of radioactive waste management.

Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. Any appointees’ political activity must be made public. None of the appointed members have declared any political activity. The Committee comply with the CoRWM Framework Document (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/committee-on-radioactive-waste-management-framework-document), published in 2020, which sets out the broad framework in which CoRWM operates.

Members
- Sir Nigel Thrift (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nigel-thrift), Chair
- Professor Penny Harvey (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/penny-harvey) Co-Deputy Chair
- Dr Derek Lacey (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/derek-lacey) Co-Deputy Chair
- Mark Kirkbride (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-kirkbridg)
- Stephen Tromans KC (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/stephen-tromans)
- Dr Ray Kemp (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ray-kemp)
- Professor Claire Corkhill (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/claire-corkhill)
- Prof Clare Bond (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/clare-bond)
- Simon Webb, CBE, FICE (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/simon-webb)
- Professor Malcolm Joyce (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/malcolm-joyce)
- Professor Barry Lennox (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/barry-lennox)
- Prof Peter Bryant (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/peter-bryant)
Scope of our work

The purpose of the Committee is to:
- give independent advice, based upon its remit and utilising the skills and expertise of its members
- provide informed scrutiny of the available evidence to UK government and devolved administration ministers on the management of radioactive waste, arising from civil and, where relevant, defence nuclear programmes, including storage and disposal
CoRWM’s objectives

CoRWM’s objectives are to provide independent evidence-based advice:
- to ministers of the UK government and devolved administrations, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority) and Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-waste-services) on proposals, plans and programmes to deliver geological disposal, together with robust interim storage, for the UK’s higher activity radioactive waste
- on other radioactive waste management issues as requested by sponsor ministers, including advice requested by the Scottish Government in relation to its policy for the management of radioactive wastes
In fulfilling its remit to provide independent and evidence-based advice, CoRWM is expected to maintain an independent overview of issues relevant to the delivery of UK government and devolved administrations’ radioactive waste management programmes. It should bring to the attention of sponsor ministers issues that it considers to be:

a) positive and worthy of note, or b) concerns that, in the Committee’s opinion, need to be addressed.

CoRWM video

CoRWM has produced a short video about engaging with communities on geological disposal:

The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ0OnG2axrU)

A transcript is available:

CoRWM: Geological disposal - transcript of film (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60992c61d3bf7f2883267b6c/Transcript_CoRWM_film_Mar_2021.pdf) (PDF, 176 KB, 2 pages)