The Atomic Energy Act 1946 (
9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 80) is an
act of Parliament of the United Kingdom which vested in the
Minister of Supply
Minister may refer to:
* Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric
** Minister (Catholic Church)
* Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department)
** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...
the power to control and promote the development of Atomic Energy in the UK.
Background
Following the pioneering development of atomic energy, and the
atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On 6 and 9 August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, during World War II. The aerial bombings killed between 150,000 and 246,000 people, most of whom were civili ...
, it was thought expedient to vest the control of the development and production of atomic energy in the UK government.
The primary concern was national security: the power of atomic energy could be used to jeopardise the safety of the state. The Act gave the government control over what was envisaged to became a wide field of industrial activity, and to protect the country from the danger of a possible hostile attack.
Provisions
Long title: 'An Act to provide for the development of atomic energy and the control of such development, and for purposes connected therewith.'
The act received
royal assent
Royal assent is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In some jurisdictions, royal assent is equivalent to promulgation, while in othe ...
on 6 November 1946.
The act comprises 21 Sections under six headings plus two schedules:
''General Functions of Minister of Supply''
* Section 1. General duty of Minister of Supply
* Section 2. General powers of Minister
* Section 3. Grants and loans of Minister
''Powers to obtain information and to inspect''
* Section 4. Power to obtain information of materials, plant and processes
* Section 5. Power of entry and inspection
''Power to search for and work minerals and acquire property''
* Section 6. Power to do work for purpose of discovering minerals
* Section 7. Compulsory acquisition of rights to work minerals
* Section 8. Compulsory acquisition of prescribed substances, stocks of minerals and plant
* Section 9. Compulsory acquisition of rights under contract
''Control of production and use of atomic energy and publication of information''
* Section 10. Control of production and use of atomic energy
* Section 11. Restriction on disclosure of information relating to plant
''Special provisions as to inventions''
* Section 12. Special provisions as to inventions
''General Provisions''
* Section 13. Disclosure of information obtained under Act
* Section 14. Offences and penalties
* Section 15. Provisions as to orders
* Section 16. Expenses
* Section 17. Service of notices
* Section 18. Definitions
* Section 19. Application to Scotland
* Section 20. Application to Northern Ireland
* Section 21. Short title
''Schedules''
* First Schedule - Compensation for Work done in Searching for Minerals
* Second Schedule - Compulsory Acquisition of Certain Property
See also
*
Atomic Energy Authority Act
Atomic Energy Authority Act (with its variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom relating to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
The Bill for an Act with this short title will have been known as a Atomic ...
*
Atomic Energy Research Establishment
The Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), also known as Harwell Laboratory, was the main Headquarters, centre for nuclear power, atomic energy research and development in the United Kingdom from 1946 to the 1990s. It was created, owned ...
References
{{reflist
Nuclear energy in the United Kingdom