Defence Nuclear Safety Committee
Updated 16 April 2024
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The role of the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee (DNSC) is to provide unbiased, independent, expert advice to the Secretary of State for Defence and senior officials on all safety matters pertaining to the DNP (and security and environmental issues, where such issues have the potential to impact upon nuclear safety). This includes equipment and facility design, development, manufacture, and storage, in service support, handling, transport, operational training, operations, decommissioning and disposition, support facilities and capabilities, and the safety of workers and the public. The DNSC focus lies in providing assurance about the soundness of the safety practices and safety management arrangements relevant to the defence nuclear programmes.
Members will be expected to commit to up to 20 days per year, attend meetings at Ministry of Defence offices in London and other locations in the UK, visit naval bases and other establishments across the Nuclear Enterprise. These appointments are remunerated posts attracting a daily allowance of £380.
All appointments and re-appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
2024
April
The Minister of State for Defence Procurement has appointed a Chairperson for Defence Nuclear Safety Expert Committee.
This will be for a tenure of 5 years, commencing 1 April 2024 and ending 31 March 2029.
2023
October
Defence Nuclear Safety Expert Committee Interim Chair Extension
The Minister of State for Defence Procurement has approved an extension to the appointment of the Interim Chair to the Defence Nuclear Safety Expert Committee for a period of one year, commencing on 14 August 2023 and expiring on 13 August 2024. This was done under section 3.3 of the Governance Code on Public Appointments in order to provide leadership of the Committee until a new substantive Chair can be appointed. The interim arrangement will be for a period of 12 months, but will end sooner if a substantive Chair can be appointed. The names of the Defence Nuclear Safety Expert Committee are not released to the public domain for security reasons.
2022
November
The Secretary of State for Defence has appointed two new members to the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee, for the member roles relating to Nuclear Medicine and Nuclear Reactors. All new members take up the role for an initial term of five years, beginning on 1 April 2022. The names of the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee are not released to the public domain for security reasons.
May
The Secretary of State for Defence has appointed an Interim Chair to the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee for a period of one year. The appointment will commence on 14 August 2022 and expire on 13 August 2023, following the departure of the substantive Chair. This was done under section 3.3 of the Governance Code on Public Appointments in order to provide leadership of the Committee until a new substantive Chair can be appointed. The interim arrangement will be for a period of 12 months or will end sooner, if a substantive Chair can be appointed earlier. The names of the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee are not released to the public domain for security reasons.
2021
June
The Secretary of State for Defence has reappointed one Member for a further 12 months commencing 17th June 2021 and ending 16th June 2022. The names of the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee are not released to the public domain for security reasons
May
Defence Nuclear Safety Committee – Member – Nuclear Medicine
A decision has been made by Ministers to postpone this campaign and to relaunch later in the year.
Defence Nuclear Safety Committee – Member – Nuclear Reactor Design / Pressure Vessel Technology
A decision has been made by Ministers to postpone this campaign and to relaunch later in the year.
May
The Secretary of State for Defence has appointed two new Members to the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee, for the Member roles relating to High Hazard Industry, and Nuclear Weapons Technology.
All new members take up the role for an initial term of five years, beginning on 31 May 2021.
2020
May
4 individuals were appointed by Secretary of State for Defence on 9 April 2020 for a period of 5 years.
The appointment will commence on 1 May 2020 and expire on 30 April 2025. The names of the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee are not released to the public domain for security reasons.
The Secretary of State for Defence has also reappointed 3 members to the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee (DNSC) for 5 years from April 2021 and ending on 1 April 2026.
2019
July
Secretary of State for Defence has appointed Professor Andrew H. Sherry FREng FNucI FIMMM Chair to the above Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body for a period of 3 years commencing on 28th July 2019 and ending on 27 July 2023.
2018
April
3 individuals were appointed by Minister on 2 April 2018 and will take up posts for an interim of 3 years beginning on 2 April 2018 and ending on end date of 1 April 2021. The names of the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee are not released to the public domain for security reasons.
2016
August
The current Chair to the DNSC was re-appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence on 16th August 2016 for a further 1 year term which ends on 30 June 2017.
June
4 members were re-appointed by Secretary of State for Defence on 15 June 2016 for a period of 3 years.
2 members were re-appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence on 15 June 2016 for a further period of 1 year under an exemption from The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
2014
May
3 new Members to DNSC have been appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence in the following areas: High Hazard Industry Explosives Nuclear Safety regulation.
All new members take up post for an initial term of 3 years beginning on 01 September 2014 subject to successful completion of the Developed Vetting process.
2013
June
1 new member has been appointed and 4 existing members have been re-appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence to the above Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. The new member will take up their post for an initial term of 3 years beginning on 20 June 2013 and ending on 20 June 2016.
March
Professor Laurence Williams has been appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence as Chair to the above Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. Professor Williams will take up his post for an initial term of 3 years beginning on 20 June 2013 and ending on 20 June 2016.
In addition, 3 new members of various specialisms were also appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence and will take up their terms of appointment on successful completion of developed vetting procedures.