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Energy Act 2013, CHAPTER 5 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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CHAPTER 5U.K.Supplementary

General duties of employers, employees and othersU.K.

102General duty of employees at work in relation to requirements imposed on othersU.K.

(1)Every employee, while at work, must co-operate with any person (whether or not the employer) on whom a requirement is imposed by or under any [F1of the relevant statutory provisions] so far as necessary to enable the requirement to be complied with.

(2)Failure to comply with the duty in subsection (1) is an offence.

(3)A person who commits an offence under subsection (2) is liable—

(a)on summary conviction—

(i)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland),

(ii)to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or

(iii)to both;

(b)on conviction on indictment—

(i)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years,

(ii)to a fine, or

(iii)to both.

[F2(4)In the application of this section in England and Wales, the reference in subsection (3)(a)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022).]

(5)In this section—

(a)employee” and “employer” have the same meanings as in Part 1 of the 1974 Act (see section 53(1) of that Act), F3...

F3(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

103Duty not to interfere with or misuse certain things provided under statutory requirementsU.K.

(1)It is an offence intentionally or recklessly to interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare in pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions.

(2)A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

(a)on summary conviction—

(i)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland),

(ii)to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding £20,000 (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or

(iii)to both;

(b)on conviction on indictment—

(i)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years,

(ii)to a fine, or

(iii)to both.

[F4(3)In the application of this section in England and Wales, the reference in subsection (2)(a)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022).]

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I2S. 103 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

104Duty not to charge employees for certain thingsU.K.

(1)It is an offence for an employer to impose a charge, or allow a charge to be imposed, on an employee in respect of anything done or provided in pursuance of a specific requirement imposed by or under any [F5of the relevant statutory provisions].

(2)A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

(a)on summary conviction to—

(i)in England and Wales, a fine, or

(ii)in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding £20,000;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(3)In this section—

(a)employer” and “employee” have the same meanings as in Part 1 of the 1974 Act (see section 53(1) of that Act), F6...

F6(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I3S. 104 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

OffencesU.K.

105Offences relating to false information and deceptionU.K.

(1)It is an offence for a person—

(a)to make a statement which the person knows to be false, or

(b)recklessly to make a statement which is false,

in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2).

(2)Those circumstances are where the statement is made—

(a)in purported compliance with any requirement to provide information imposed by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, or

(b)for the purposes of obtaining the issue of a document under any of the relevant statutory provisions (whether for the person making the statement or anyone else).

(3)It is an offence for a person—

(a)intentionally to make a false entry in a relevant document, or

(b)with intent to deceive, to make use of any such entry which the person knows to be false.

(4)In subsection (3) “relevant document” means any register, record, notice or other document which is required to be kept or given by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions.

(5)It is an offence for a person, with intent to deceive—

(a)to use a relevant document,

(b)to make or have possession of a document so closely resembling a relevant document as to be calculated to deceive.

(6)In subsection (5) “relevant document” means a document—

(a)issued or authorised to be issued under any of the relevant statutory provisions, or

(b)required for the purpose of any of those provisions.

(7)A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

(a)on summary conviction—

(i)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland),

(ii)to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding £20,000 (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or

(iii)to both;

(b)on conviction on indictment—

(i)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years,

(ii)to a fine, or

(iii)to both.

[F7(8)In the application of this section in England and Wales, the reference in subsection (7)(a)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022).]

106Provision relating to offences under certain relevant statutory provisionsU.K.

(1)Schedule 10 (provision relating to offences under certain relevant statutory provisions) has effect.

(2)That Schedule contains provision about the following matters—

(a)the place where an offence involving plant or a substance may be treated as having been committed;

(b)the extension of time for bringing summary proceedings in certain cases;

(c)the continuation of offences;

(d)where an offence committed by one person is due to the act or default of another person, the liability of that other person;

(e)offences by bodies corporate or partnerships;

(f)restrictions on the persons who may institute proceedings in England and Wales;

(g)powers of inspectors to prosecute offences;

(h)the burden of proof in certain cases relating to what is practicable or what are the best means for doing something;

(i)reliance on entries in a register or other document as evidence;

(j)power of the court to order a defendant to take remedial action.

Commencement Information

I5S. 106 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

Civil liabilityU.K.

107Civil liability: saving for section 12 of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965U.K.

Nothing in this Part affects the operation of section 12 of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (right to compensation by virtue of certain provisions of that Act).

Commencement Information

I6S. 107 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

SupplementaryU.K.

108Reporting requirements of Secretary of StateU.K.

(1)As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the financial year, the Secretary of State must make a report to each House of Parliament on the use of the Secretary of State's powers under this Part during the year.

(2)The Secretary of State must lay a copy of any such report before Parliament.

Commencement Information

I7S. 108 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

109Notices etcU.K.

(1)In this section references to a notice are to a notice or other document that is required or authorised to be given to any person under a relevant provision.

(2)A notice to the person must be in writing.

(3)A notice may be given by—

(a)delivering it to the person,

(b)leaving it at the person's proper address,

(c)sending it by post to the person at that address, or

(d)in the case of a notice to be given to the owner or occupier of any premises (whether or not a body corporate), in accordance with subsection (9), (10) or (11).

(4)A notice may—

(a)in the case of a body corporate, be given in accordance with subsection (3) to a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, and

(b)in the case of a partnership, be given in accordance with subsection (3) to a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business or, in Scotland, the firm.

(5)For the purposes of this section and section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (service of documents by post) in its application to this section, the “proper address” is—

(a)in the case of a notice to be given to a body corporate or an officer of the body, the address of the registered or principal office of the body;

(b)in the case of a notice to be given to a partnership, a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business, the address of the principal office of the partnership;

(c)in any other case, the last known address of the person to whom the notice is to be given.

(6)For the purposes of subsection (5), the principal office of a company registered outside the United Kingdom or of a partnership carrying on business outside the United Kingdom is its principal office within the United Kingdom.

(7)Subsection (8) applies if—

(a)a person has specified an address in the United Kingdom as one at which the person, or someone on the person's behalf, will accept documents of the same description as a notice, and

(b)the address so specified is not the person's proper address (as determined under subsection (5)).

(8)The specified address is also to be treated as the person's proper address for the purposes of this section and section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 in its application to this section.

(9)A notice that is to be given to the owner or occupier of any premises may be given by—

(a)sending it by post to the person at those premises, or

(b)addressing it by name to the person and delivering it to some responsible person who is or appears to be resident or employed at the premises.

(10)If the name or address of an owner or occupier of premises cannot be ascertained after reasonable inquiry, a notice to the owner or occupier may be given by—

(a)addressing it by the description “owner” or “occupier” of the premises to which the notice relates (and describing the premises), and

(b)delivering it to some responsible person who is or appears to be resident or employed there.

(11)If there is no person as mentioned in subsection (10)(b), then the notice may be given by fixing it, or a copy of it, to some conspicuous part of the premises.

(12)This section is subject to provision made in regulations under this Part in respect of notices given under the regulations.

(13)In this section—

  • director”, in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate;

  • employed” has the same meaning as in the 1974 Act;

  • relevant provision” means any of the relevant statutory provisions other than a provision of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000;

and references to giving a notice include similar expressions (such as serving or sending).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I8S. 109 in force at 10.3.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 3(e)

110Electronic delivery of notices etcU.K.

(1)This section applies where—

(a)section 109 authorises the giving of a notice or other document by its delivery to a particular person (“the recipient”), and

(b)the notice or other document is transmitted to the recipient—

(i)by means of an electronic communications network, or

(ii)by other means but in a form that requires the use of apparatus by the recipient to render it intelligible.

(2)The transmission has effect for the purposes of section 109 as a delivery of the notice or other document to the recipient, but only if the recipient has indicated to the person making the transmission (“the sender”) a willingness to receive the notice or other document in the form and manner used.

(3)An indication to the sender for the purposes of subsection (2)—

(a)must be given to the sender in such manner as the sender may require,

(b)may be a general indication or an indication that is limited to notices or other documents of a particular description,

(c)must state the address to be used,

(d)must be accompanied by such other information as the sender requires for the making of the transmission, and

(e)may be modified or withdrawn at any time by a notice given to the sender in such manner as the sender may require.

(4)In this section “electronic communications network” has the same meaning as in the Communications Act 2003; and the reference to giving a notice is to be read in accordance with section 109.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I9S. 110 in force at 10.3.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 3(e)

111Crown application: Part 3U.K.

(1)Subject as follows, this Part, and regulations made under it, bind the Crown.

(2)Part 2 of Schedule 8 (inspectors: improvement and prohibition notices) does not bind the Crown.

(3)Any other provision of, or of regulations under, this Part under which a person may be prosecuted for an offence—

(a)does not bind the Crown, but

(b)applies to persons in the public service of the Crown as it applies to other persons.

(4)So far as it applies to nuclear regulations, subsection (3) is subject to any provision made by those regulations.

(5)For the purposes of this Part and regulations made under this Part, persons in the service of the Crown are to be treated as employees of the Crown (whether or not they would be so treated apart from this subsection).

(6)The Secretary of State may, by order—

(a)amend this section so as to provide for any provision made by or under this Part to apply to the Crown, or not to apply to the Crown, to any extent;

(b)amend any provision of sections 68 to 73 so far as it affects the extent to which any of the ONR's purposes relates to the Crown or any of the purposes of the Crown.

(7)Provision that may be made under subsection (6) includes in particular provision altering whether, or the extent to which, any of the ONR's purposes relates to—

(a)sites or premises used or occupied by the Crown,

(b)sites controlled or occupied to any extent for defence purposes (within the meaning of section 70), or

(c)transport for those purposes.

(8)Nothing in this section authorises proceedings to be brought against Her Majesty in her private capacity (within the meaning of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I10S. 111 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

112Interpretation of Part 3U.K.

(1)In this Part—

  • the 1974 Act” means the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974;

  • approved code of practice” has the meaning given by section 79(3);

  • financial year”, in relation to the ONR, has the meaning given by paragraph 28 of Schedule 7;

  • health and safety inspector” means a person appointed by the ONR under section 19 of the 1974 Act;

  • improvement notice” has the meaning given by paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 8;

  • inspector” means an inspector appointed under Part 1 of Schedule 8 (unless otherwise specified);

  • member of staff”, in relation to the ONR, is to be read in accordance with paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 7;

  • modify” includes amend, repeal or revoke (and “modification” is to be read accordingly);

  • nuclear regulations” has the meaning given by section 74(1);

  • [F8“nuclear safeguards regulations” means regulations under section 76A(1);]

  • nuclear site” means—

    (a)

    a site in respect of which a nuclear site licence is in force, or

    (b)

    a site in respect of which a period of responsibility has not ended;

  • nuclear site licence” has the same meaning as in the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (see section 1 of that Act);

  • ONR” means the Office for Nuclear Regulation;

  • ONR inquiry” has the meaning given by section 85(2);

  • period of responsibility”, in relation to a site, means the period of responsibility (within the meaning given in section 5 of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (revocation and surrender of licences)) in respect of a nuclear site licence granted at any time in respect of the site;

  • personal injury” includes—

    (a)

    any disease, and

    (b)

    any impairment of a person's physical or mental condition;

  • prohibition notice” has the meaning given by paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 8;

  • regulatory function”, in relation to the ONR, means—

    (a)

    a function of giving or revoking permission or approval in relation to any material, premises or activity;

    (b)

    a function of imposing conditions or requirements in relation to any material, premises or activity;

    (c)

    a function, other than a function under section 84 (investigations), which relates to securing, monitoring or investigating compliance with conditions or requirements (however imposed) in relation to any material, premises or activity;

    (d)

    a function which relates to the enforcement of such requirements;

  • [F8“relevant international agreement” has the meaning given by subsection (1A);]

  • relevant power” has the meaning given by paragraph 2 of Schedule 8;

  • relevant statutory provisions” has the meaning given by section 82(2) (unless otherwise specified).

[F9(1A)Relevant international agreement” means an agreement (whether or not ratified) to which the United Kingdom is a party and which—

(a)relates to nuclear safeguards, and

(b)is specified in regulations under subsection (1B),

and a reference in this Part to a relevant international agreement is to the agreement as it has effect for the time being.

(1B)The Secretary of State may by regulations specify agreements for the purposes of subsection (1A)(b).

(1C)References in subsection (1A) to an agreement to which the United Kingdom is a party include an undertaking given by the United Kingdom which—

(a)relates to guidance or any other document issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and

(b)is notified to the Agency by the United Kingdom,

(and the reference in subsection (1B) to an agreement is to be read accordingly).

(1D)Before making regulations under subsection (1B), the Secretary of State must consult—

(a)the ONR, and

(b)such other persons (if any) as the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to consult.

(1E)Subsection (1D)(a) does not apply if the regulations give effect, without modification, to proposals submitted by the ONR under section 81(1)(a)(iiia).]

(2)The following apply for the purposes of this Part as they apply for the purposes of Part 1 of the 1974 Act—

(a)section 52(1) of that Act (meaning of “work” and “at work”);

(b)the power conferred by section 52(2)(a) of that Act to extend the meaning of “work” and “at work”.

Textual Amendments

F8Words in s. 112(1) inserted (26.10.2018) by Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018 (c. 15), ss. 1(3)(a), 6(2); S.I. 2018/1079, reg. 2(a)

Commencement Information

I11S. 112 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

113Subordinate legislation under Part 3U.K.

(1)Any power to make subordinate legislation under this Part is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(2)An instrument containing (whether alone or with other provision)—

(a)nuclear regulations [F10, or nuclear safeguards regulations,] which fall within subsection (3), F11...

[F12(aa)regulations under section 76A(7),]

(b)an order under section 111, [F13or

(c)regulations under section 112(1B),]

may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(3)Nuclear regulations [F14or nuclear safeguards regulations] fall within this subsection if—

(a)they are the first nuclear regulations [F14or nuclear safeguards regulations] to be made,

(b)they include provision amending or repealing any provision of—

(i)the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, or

(ii)the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000, or

(c)they include provision creating a new offence by virtue of section 75;

and for this purpose nuclear regulations [F14or nuclear safeguards regulations] which revoke and re-enact an offence are not to be regarded as creating a new offence.

(4)An instrument containing an order under paragraph 26 of Schedule 7 (payments and borrowing) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the House of Commons.

(5)An instrument containing any other subordinate legislation under this Part is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6)Any power to make subordinate legislation under this Part includes power—

(a)to make different provision for different cases;

(b)to make provision for some cases only or subject to exceptions;

(c)to make provision generally or only in particular respects.

(7)Any subordinate legislation under this Part may include—

(a)consequential, incidental or supplementary provision;

(b)transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(8)In this section “subordinate legislation” means an Order in Council, an order or regulations.

(9)In relation to any modification of a provision of, or made under, any of the provisions of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 that are relevant statutory provisions, the power conferred by subsection (7)(a) includes power to extend the modification to Northern Ireland for the purpose of ensuring that the text of the provision is uniform throughout the United Kingdom (but does not include power to alter the effect of the provision in relation to a site in Northern Ireland).

Textual Amendments

F11Word in s. 113(2)(a) omitted (26.10.2018) by virtue of Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018 (c. 15), s. 6(2), Sch. para. 9(2)(b); S.I. 2018/1079, reg. 2(b)

114Transitional provision etcU.K.

(1)The Secretary of State may by order make any transitional, transitory or saving provision which appears appropriate in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, this Part.

(2)The provision which may be made by virtue of subsection (1) includes, in particular—

(a)provision modifying any provision made by—

(i)primary legislation passed before the end of the session in which this Act was passed, or

(ii)an instrument made before the end of that session;

(b)provision for treating any regulations within subsection (3) as—

(i)relevant statutory provisions (or as relevant statutory provisions of a particular description),

(ii)regulations under section 85, or

(iii)regulations under section 101.

(3)The regulations mentioned in subsection (2)(b) are regulations made under a provision within subsection (4) so far as they relate to, or to fees payable in respect of functions which relate to, any of the following purposes—

(a)the nuclear safety purposes;

(b)the nuclear security purposes;

(c)the nuclear safeguards purposes;

(d)the transport purposes.

(4)The provisions mentioned in subsection (3) are—

(a)section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (general implementation of Treaties);

(b)section 14 of the 1974 Act (power to direct investigations and inquiries);

(c)section 15 of that Act (health and safety regulations);

(d)section 43 of that Act (fees);

(e)section 3 of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000 (identifying persons who have information);

(f)section 77 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (regulation of security of civil nuclear industry).

(5)Provision made under this section is additional, and without prejudice, to that made by or under any other provision of this Act.

Commencement Information

I12S. 114 partly in force; s. 114(1) in force at Royal Assent, see s. 156(3)(i)

I13S. 114(2)-(5) in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

115Transfer of staff etcU.K.

Schedule 11 (which makes provision about schemes to transfer staff etc to the ONR) has effect.

116Minor and consequential amendmentsU.K.

(1)Schedule 12 (minor and consequential amendments related to Part 3) has effect.

(2)The Secretary of State may by order make such modifications of—

(a)primary legislation passed before the end of the session in which this Act is passed, or

(b)an instrument made before the end of that session,

as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of this Part.

(3)The power in subsection (2) includes power to make modifications of—

(a)paragraphs 17 to 30 of Schedule 12 (amendments of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965), or

(b)the provisions of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 that are amended by those paragraphs.

(4)The power conferred by virtue of subsection (3) is exercisable—

(a)before or after the date on which those paragraphs come into force, and

(b)only for the purpose of making provision corresponding to any amendments of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 set out in an order made before that date (whether before or after this Act is passed) under section 76 of the Energy Act 2004 (amendments for giving effect to international obligations).

Commencement Information

I14S. 116 partly in force; s. 116(2) in force at Royal Assent, see s. 156(3)(k)

I15S. 116(1) in force at 10.3.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/251, art. 3(f)

I16S. 116(1) in force at 1.4.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

I17S. 116(3)(4) in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

117Application of Part 3U.K.

(1)Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide that the provisions of this Part apply, so far as specified, in relation to persons, premises, activities, articles, substances or other matters, outside the United Kingdom as they apply within the United Kingdom or a specified part of the United Kingdom.

(2)Such an Order in Council may—

(a)provide for any provisions of this Part to apply subject to modifications;

(b)provide for any of those provisions, as applied by the Order, to apply—

(i)in relation to individuals, whether or not they are British citizens, and

(ii)in relation to bodies corporate, whether or not they are incorporated under the law of a part of the United Kingdom;

(c)make provision for conferring jurisdiction on a specified court or courts of a specified description in respect of—

(i)offences under this Part committed outside the United Kingdom, or

(ii)causes of action under section 76 in respect of acts or omissions that occur outside the United Kingdom;

(d)make provision for questions arising out of any acts or omissions mentioned in paragraph (c)(ii) to be determined in accordance with the law in force in any specified part of the United Kingdom;

(e)exclude from the operation of section 3 of the Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878 (consents required for prosecutions) proceedings for offences under any provision of this Part committed outside the United Kingdom.

(3)In this section “specified”, in relation to an Order in Council, means specified in the Order.

(4)Nothing in this section affects the application outside the United Kingdom of any provision of, or made under, this Part which so applies otherwise than by virtue of an Order in Council under this section.

Commencement Information

I18S. 117 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4

118Review of Part 3U.K.

(1)As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the period of [F157 years] beginning with the day on which section 77 comes into force, the Secretary of State must carry out a review of the provisions of this Part.

(2)The Secretary of State must set out the conclusions of the review in a report.

(3)The report must, in particular—

(a)set out the objectives of the provisions of this Part,

(b)assess the extent to which those objectives have been achieved, and

(c)assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which those objectives could be achieved in a way that imposes less regulation.

(4)The Secretary of State must lay the report before Parliament.

Textual Amendments

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