The Department for Work and Pensions has obtained approval for an advance from the Contingencies Fund of £550,000 to implement shared services (HR, finance and procurement) for the Office for Nuclear Regulation. This advance is necessitated by the lead in time for delivery prior to Royal Assent of the Energy Bill.

Parliamentary approval for additional resource of £550,000 for this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Department for Work and Pensions. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £550,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund. The repayment is expected to be made in the financial year 2013-14.

This advance will allow the Office for Nuclear Regulation to continue to work to its current development timetable and implement shared services in time for the Office for Nuclear Regulation to be established as a public corporation in April 2014.