Defence written question – answered at on 11 December 2012.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on publication of information on levels of (a) gamma, (b) beta, (c) other radiation and (d) radiation recorded on film badges at British nuclear test sites; who within his Department takes the decisions on which such information should be published; and according to what criteria any such decisions are taken.
holding answer
Documents relating to British nuclear tests have been, and continue to be, opened to the public through the National Archives in accordance with the Public Records Act 1958. Individual requests for information are handled in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations and the Data Protection Act 1998, as appropriate.
In addition to what is set out in legislation, there is internal Ministry of Defence guidance on recognising and handling the release of information which triggers Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights. This right covers the release of information that relates to concerns an individual may have about the impact on their health or exposure to a potentially hazardous situation.
Decisions on the release of such information are made by the officials handling individual requests, with approval through their line management chain, and are made in accordance with the relevant legislation. Information on radiation levels and radiation dose levels at the British nuclear tests is routinely released where those records are held, as there are no pressing national security reasons for withholding such information.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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