Catalogue description Records of the Atomic Energy Division

In 1940, a UK Atomic Energy Project was set up under the auspices of the Air Ministry. Administrative charge of the Project passed to the Lord President of the Council and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in 1941. By the Atomic Energy Act 1946, responsibility for atomic energy matters was transferred to the Ministry of Supply. Since that date the functions have been carried out by various organisations:

• 1954 - Research and development matters undertaken by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA); policy matters taken over by the Lord President of the Council (Atomic Energy Office).
• UKAEA still holds the research and development functions; responsibilities for policy continued to change:-
• 1957 - Under direct responsibility of the Prime Minister
• 1959 - Under the Office of the Minister for Science
• 1964 - Under the Department of Education and Science
• 1965 - Under the Ministry of Technology
• 1970 - Under the Department of Trade and Industry
• 1973 - Under the Department of Energy

The functions of the Atomic Energy Division included general responsibility for UK aspects of atomic energy and relations with the UKAEA, as well as international aspects of atomic energy, including UK representation on the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) and the European Nuclear Energy Authority (ENEA).

Areas of interest of the Division in the 1980s included the British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), centrifuge enrichment project and policy; uranium procurement policy; Department of Energy aspects of the Nuclear Installations Act, 1965; and relations with the Health and Safety Executive.