Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954

2 Functions of the Authority

(1) On the appointed day, the Authority shall take over from the Lord President of the Council the carrying on of the activities then being carried on by him under subsection (1) of section two of the Atomic Energy Act, 1946, and subsection (1) of section one of the Radioactive Substances Act, 1948, and the provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act shall have effect in relation to the property, rights and liabilities held or enjoyed by, or incumbent on, the Lord President of the Council for the purposes of or in connection with those activities.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Authority shall, as from the appointed day, have power (whether within the United Kingdom or elsewhere)—

(a) to produce, use and dispose of atomic energy and carry out research into any matters connected therewith;

(b) to manufacture or otherwise produce, buy or otherwise acquire, store and transport any articles which in the opinion of the Authority are, or are likely to be, required for or in connection with the production or use of atomic energy or such research as aforesaid, and to dispose of any articles manufactured, produced, bought or acquired by them;

(c) to manufacture or otherwise produce, buy or otherwise acquire, treat, store, transport and dispose of any radioactive substances;

(d) to do all such things (including the erection of buildings, and the execution of works and the searching for and working of minerals) as appear to the Authority necessary or expedient for the exercise of the foregoing powers;

(e) to make arrangements with universities and other institutions or persons for the conduct of research into matters connected with atomic energy or radioactive substances and, with the approval of the Lord President of the Council and the Treasury, to make grants or loans to universities and other institutions or persons engaged in the production or use of atomic energy or radioactive substances or in research into matters connected with atomic energy or radioactive substances;

(f) to distribute information relating to, and educate arid train persons in matters connected with, atomic energy or radioactive substances :

Provided that—

(i) the Authority shall not, save in accordance with arrangements made with the Minister of Supply, develop or produce any weapon or part of a weapon, except that nothing in this proviso shall limit the power of the Authority to conduct experimental work which may lead to improved types of explosive nuclear assemblies for atomic weapons;

(ii) the Authority shall not search for minerals in the United Kingdom otherwise than under the authority of the Lord President of the Council and shall not work minerals in the United Kingdom otherwise than in the exercise of rights vested in them under section seven of the Atomic Energy Act, 1946, as amended by this Act.

(3) As from the appointed day, subsection (1) of section two of the Atomic Energy Act, 1946, section three of that Act and section one of the Radioactive Substances Act, 1948, are hereby repealed:

Provided that, notwithstanding the repeal by this section of subsection (1) of section two of the Atomic Energy Act, 1946, the Lord President of the Council shall have power—

(a) to exercise any rights vested in him under section seven of that Act; and

(b) to store, transport and dispose of any articles acquired by him in the exercise of those rights or in or by reason of any exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections six, eight and nine of that Act; and

(c) to do all such things (including the erection of buildings and the execution of works) as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the exercise of the powers reserved to him by the preceding provisions of this proviso.