482.Under this section, the Secretary of State must make a report to both Houses of Parliament, in respect of each financial year and as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the relevant financial year, on how the Secretary of State’s powers under the Act in relation to the ONR have been exercised. The report must be laid before each House.
483.The purpose of this annual reporting is to facilitate Parliamentary scrutiny of powers exercised by the Secretary of State in relation to the ONR, for instance, the appointment or dismissal of ONR non-executive members, approving the appointment of the Chief Nuclear Inspector or the Chief Executive Officer, the modification of the ONR’s strategy or annual plan or the use of the Secretary of State’s power of direction.