My Lords, this group is fairly straightforward and deals with the structure of the board of the ONR. The amendments allow us to move to increase the minimum number of non-executive members by one and to provide that among those non-executive directors there should be experience of the nuclear sector. The amendments in the name of
the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, probably express that slightly better than mine and I therefore hope that the Minister, if she does not smile on mine, will at least smile on his. The amendments also propose that the ONR board reflects at least some of the structure of the organisation from which it is coming. The HSE has always operated on a broadly tripartite basis, with employers, trade unions and representatives of workers represented on the Health and Safety Commission. The shadow ONR within the HSE also reflects that position.
I recognise that the Government are not that keen on trade unions and that regrettably, for the first time ever since 1974, through periods of government of every hue, this Government did not consult the TUC on the latest appointment to the board of the Health and Safety Commission. However, they appointed a trade union person to it. Therefore, they obviously continue to have some belief that the tripartite nature of the organisation is helpful. I think that that needs to apply also to the ONR, which operates some of the HSE’s non-nuclear functions and all the HSE’s nuclear functions. Therefore, it should be explicitly representative of people with experience as employers and people who have experience of representing employees—which, by and large, will involve trade unions.
It is very important to understand that the sector which the ONR will regulate is still quite a highly unionised sector. Although there have been difficulties, the co-operation between the workforce and the management is very important, which has been greatly appreciated at most points during the history of the nuclear sector. It also has been one in which the HSE has helped, by its structure of governance, to ensure that there is co-operation between the workforce, the management and the Government in relation to the management of the nuclear sector.
Whether in broader terms they like it or not, the Government would be wise to ensure that there is representation of the two sides of industry, as we used to say, in the nuclear industry and in the regulator which deals with the nuclear industry. Amendments 38V to 38X clear the ground for that and Amendment 38Y provides for it. I also support the amendments in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, which, as I have said, perhaps are a better way of expressing the absolute necessity for people on that board to have experience of nuclear safety in operating their functions on the board. I would be interested to hear the Minister’s comments. I beg to move.
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