This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Standard Operating Proceedures - Operation Grapple'.




 
 
DE&S Policy Secretariat Submarines  
 
 
 
#2043 Maple 0a 
 
MOD Abbey Wood 
Bristol BS34 8JH 
 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xx 
 
 
   
 
 
   
Mr Joseph Pasquini 
   
 
  Our Reference:  
Via: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx 
01-03-2012-150550-008 
   
  Date: 29 March 2012 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dear Mr Pasquini, 
 
Request for Information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000  
 
Further to the email of 7 March 2012, I should like to provide you with an update on your 
request for information under the Freedom of Information Act in which you ask for the 
following:  
 
Please provide me with the Standard Operating Procedures for: 
      
1. 

Issuance of Radiation recording/monitoring devices to personnel, and the 
recording of device type and serial number. 
      
2. 

Collection of Film Badges and Quartz Fibre Electroscopes (QFE) from exposed 
personnel. 
      
3. 

Development and assessment of film badges radiation doses and QFEs, and 
recording of the doses received by individuals. 
      
4. 

Decontamination of personnel. 
      
5. 

Decontamination of RAF aircraft involved with the nuclear tests. 
      
6. 

Removal of Radioactive Samples from the 76 Squadron Sampling Aircraft. 
      
7. 

Cloud sampling operations. 
      
8. 

Processing and transfer of Radioactive Samples to the UK (AWRE). 
      
9. Decontamination 

of 
Balloon detonation sites. 
 
It is considered that qualified exemptions Section 22 (information intended for future 
publication) and Section 24 (national security) plus absolute exemption Section 40 (personal 
information) may apply to the information you have requested.  Qualified exemptions are 
 


subject to the application of a balance of public interest test.  Under Section 10(3), of the Act, 
where public authorities have to apply this test in relation to a request, they do not have to 
comply with the request until such time as is reasonable in the circumstances.  The Ministry 
of Defence has not yet reached a decision on the balance of the public interest test in this 
case.  I will write to you again by 30 April 2012 with either a substantive response or a 
further update on your request. 
 
If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact me. Please remember 
to quote the reference number above in any future communications. 
 
If you have any queries about this request, please, do not hesitate to contact me. Please 
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications. 
If you are not satisfied with this response or you wish to complain about any aspect of the 
handling of your request, then you should contact me in the first instance. If informal 
resolution is not possible and you are still dissatisfied then you may apply for an independent 
internal review by contacting the Head of Corporate Information, 2nd Floor, MOD Main 
Building, Whitehall, SW1A 2HB (e-mail xxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xx). Please note that any request 
for an internal review must be made within 40 working days of the date on which the attempt 
to reach informal resolution has come to an end. 
 
If you remain dissatisfied following an internal review, you may take your complaint to the 
Information Commissioner under the provisions of Section 50 of the Freedom of Information 
Act. Please note that the Information Commissioner will not investigate your case until the 
MOD internal review process has been completed. Further details of the role and powers of 
the Information Commissioner can be found on the Commissioner's website, 
http://www.ico.gov.uk
 
Yours Sincerely 
 
Policy Secretariat Submarines