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<p>The NPT does not require the UK, as a nuclear weapons State, to agree safeguards
agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since 1978, the UK
has voluntarily accepted the application of safeguards in the United Kingdom in connection
with the NPT through tri-lateral nuclear safeguards arrangements between the UK, the
IAEA and Euratom – a Voluntary Offer Agreement (VOA) and, later, an Additional Protocol
(AP). On 7 June 2018 the UK and the IAEA signed a new VOA and new AP to replace the
existing trilateral agreements that include Euratom. The new VOA and AP were presented
to Parliament for ratification on 12 November. The new VOA and AP ensure that the
IAEA retains its right to inspect all civil nuclear facilities, and continues to receive
all current safeguards reporting, thus ensuring that international verification of
our safeguards activity continues to be robust.</p>
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