This snapshot taken on 02/10/2009, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
A nuclear emergency would require co-ordinated action from many different public authorities, each of which is required to have a suitable emergency plan in place. To ensure that emergency plans are well co-ordinated, all the key organisations are represented on the Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group (NEPLG). The Group monitors and improves emergency planning procedures and organisation across the UK.
The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, as the Minister accountable for safety at civil nuclear sites, has overall responsibility for the co-ordinating framework for nuclear emergency plans. More general responsibility for civil emergency planning rests with the Home Secretary (for England and Wales) and the Scottish Executive.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has oversight of nuclear emergency planning in Northern Ireland.
In the event of a nuclear emergency or other incident, a lead Department would co-ordinate the Government's response. The lead Department would generally be the one whose Ministers account to Parliament for regulating the cause of the incident, or DEFRA in the case of an overseas emergency.
