The Cabinet Papers banner

You are here: Cabinet Papers home > Browse by theme > Infrastructure, energy and natural resources > Atomic energy

Atomic energy

Mechanics working on the reactor at Dounreay Atomic Power Station in November 1959.

Mechanics working on the reactor at Dounreay Atomic Power Station in November 1959.
©TopFoto

During World War Two, Britain cooperated with the US on the Manhattan Project and produced the first atomic bombs. The British government expected collaboration on atomic energy to continue but, in 1946, the American McMahon Act forbade the sharing of atomic information.

Related documents

Development of British atomic energy

Cabinet Conclusion 4. Atomic Energy. 8 November 1945 (PDF, 1.194MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. International Control of Atomic Energy: Memorandum by the Prime Minister. 5 November 1945 (PDF, 0.712MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Atomic Energy: Memorandum by the Lord President of the Council. 15 November 1945 (PDF, 0.191MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 4. Atomic Energy. 11 February 1952 (PDF, 0.672MB)

UK Atomic Energy Authority

Cabinet Conclusion 5. Atomic Energy Organization. 6 November 1952 (PDF, 1.659MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Atomic Energy Organisation: Transfer from Minister of Supply to a National Corporation: Memorandum by the Paymaster General. 30 September 1952 (PDF, 0.958MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Atomic Energy Organisation: Memorandum by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 24 October 1952 (PDF, 0.210MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Atomic Energy Organisation: Memorandum by the Minister of Supply. 25 October 1952 (PDF, 0.556MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Atomic Energy Organisation: Note by the Secretary of Cabinet. 25 July 1953 (PDF, 7.307MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 3. Atomic Energy Organisation. 27 October 1953 (PDF, 1.687MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Atomic Energy Organisation: Memorandum by the Paymaster General. 21 October 1953 (PDF, 1.123MB)

'A Programme of Nuclear Power'

Cabinet Conclusion 4. Atomic Energy. 9 February 1955 (PDF, 0.961MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Atomic Energy: Civil Programme: Note by the Lord President of the Council. 4 February 1955 (PDF, 4.229MB)

Nuclear Power Working Party

Cabinet Conclusion 5. Atomic Energy. 28 February 1957 (PDF, 1.980MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Nuclear Power Programme: Memorandum by the Minister of Power. 25 February 1957 (PDF, 3.760MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 4. Atomic Energy. 23 June 1959 (PDF, 1.173MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Nuclear Power Programme: Memorandum by the Minister of Power. 19 June 1959 (PDF, 0.441MB)

Setbacks and concerns

Cabinet Conclusion 5. Nuclear Power: IBRD Loan. 27 February 1958 (PDF, 1.005MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Nuclear Power: IBRD Loan. 25 February 1958 (PDF, 1.502MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Nuclear Power: IBRD Loan. 25 February 1958 (PDF, 0.306MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 4. Atomic Energy: Accident at Windscale Plant. 6 November 1957 (PDF, 2.349MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 4. Nuclear Weapons Test. 12 March 1957 (PDF, 1.572MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 1. Nuclear Tests. 25 July 1957 (PDF, 1.511MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 8. Atomic Energy: Nuclear Tests. 22 January 1958 (PDF, 1.895MB)

National Nuclear Corporation

Cabinet Memorandum. Nuclear Power Programme: 1970 - 1975. Note by the Secretary of the Cabinet. 10 April 1964 (PDF, 1.750MB)

Cabinet Conclusions. Reorganisation of the Nuclear Industry. 11 July 1972 (PDF, 1.009MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 3. Reorganisation of the Nuclear Design and Construction Industry. 20 February 1973 (PDF, 1.727MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 3. Reorganisation of the Nuclear Design and Construction Industry. 20 March 1973 (PDF, 2.418MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. The Future of the Nuclear Industry. Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. 7 August 1972 (PDF, 0.597MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Reorganisation of the Nuclear Design and Construction Industry. Note by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. 19 March 1973 (PDF, 1.412MB)

Search using McMahon Act Atomic Energy Authority Windscale

Further reading

Authority Historian's Office, Atomic Energy Authority, Atomic Energy in Britain 1939-1975 (Harwell, 1978)

Content

Related Links

Print this page content