Office for Nuclear Regulation

Releases of information

Some documents published here may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. To request the document in an alternative format such as braille, audio or a different file type please email contact@onr.gov.uk quoting your address, telephone number along with the FOI request number.

Following a number of requests for information on incidents, ONR has published a list of events reported to the Nuclear Safety Regulator. This is available via the corporate publications webpage.

FOI releases - 2023

Reference Request
202311050 AR/VR training
202311002 The Impact of Severe Weather Events on the Operation of Nuclear Power Stations
202310045 “A Guide to Nuclear Regulation in the UK” Document
202310044 EIMT Requirements Throughout the Lifetime of a Nuclear Facility
202310041 The West Berkshire Core Strategy (2006 - 2026)
202309039 Professional status for candidates - Band 3 Cyber Security and Information Assurance Inspector
202309038 Interactions with ‘Five Eyes’ Partners
202309037 Radioactivity discharged to the atmosphere from Sizewell B
202309036 Technical Advisory Panel Terms of Reference, Aircraft Crash Hazard Assessment
202309035 National Security Act 2023
202309034 Band 3 Cyber Security and Information Assurance Inspector
202309030 REPPIR19/OSEP
202308028 Personal possession offences
202308027 Suppliers, subcontractors and consultants involved with developments and projects at Sizewell nuclear power station
202308026 List of suppliers, subcontractors and consultants involved with the River Thames Scheme (RTS)
202308025 Police force data breach waiting times
202308023 Core IT systems
202307022 Invoices that were not paid within 30 days
202307021 2023/24 pay review
202307020 Corporate Estate Management (Hard/Soft Facilities Management)
202307001 Annual volume release of Sulphur Hexafluoride
202306019 Land Use Planning Reserved Matters
202306018 Recruitment Agency Spend
202306014 Notification of applications for planning permission
202306013 Changes to ONR Land Use Planning consultation zones
202306012 Modular exercise
202306011 Standards and Guidance for Sensitive Information
202305010 ONR ITT Leadership tender
202305009 NS-TAST-GD-013
202305007 BEIS Consultation of EN6 (2018)
202305006 Outline curriculum for basic Nuclear Safety Training
202304005 Agency spend
202304004 Agency spend and structure charts
202304003 Advice to BEIS on AMR Fission Reactor Designs
202304002 Geological Disposal Facility (GDF)
202304001 Historic LLCs (2011-2016) and PARs (2010-2016)
202303059 Leadership Development Programme Providers
202303058 1986 incident at Chernobyl
202303057 Charges
202303056 Missing Radioactive Capsule in Western Australia and implications for the UK
202302055 REPPIR and Consequence Reports – Burghfield AWE Site
202302053 Contact with the Tobacco Industry
202302052 Drones/UAV’s
202302051 Temporary and Permanent Recruitment
202302050 Salary Bands and Role Descriptions
202301049 Malicious attacks
202301048 Nuclear Safety Incidents at HM Naval Base Faslane (2018-2022)
202301047 Sizewell C – Cut-off/Perimeter Walls
202301046 Technical Inspection Guides (TIGs) and Technical Assessment Guides (TAGs)
202301045 Rolls-Royce SMR GDA
202212044 Dungeness B Intervention Record

Compliance statistics

2022/23

Information Requests Summary 2022/23

Type 2022/23
FOI 59
EIR 0
Internal Review 5
ICO Referrals 3
Total 67

FOI/EIR 2022/23

Type Total
Number  59
Extended to consider the PIT  3
Refinement/Clarification Required 1
Processed in full  58
Met statutory deadline 53
Withdrawn 1
Longer than statutory deadline 5
Information granted in full 20
Information refused in full 15
Information granted in part & refused in part 12
Information not held by ONR 11
Exemptions used 29
Referred for internal review  5
The outcome of the internal review - decision fully upheld 5
The outcome of the internal review - decision partially upheld 0
Outcome of the internal review - withdrawn 0
Referred to the ICO 3
The decision from the ICO upholding original decision 3

Exemptions used for information refused - Section 2022/23

Type Total
12 – Cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit 13
14 – Dealing with vexatious requests 1
21 – Information reasonably accessible by other means 5
24 – Safeguarding national security 5
31 – Law enforcement 1
40 – Personal information 8
43 – Commercial Interests 2

Comments

The five requests that are listed as taking longer than the statutory deadline are linked to an ICO case. The ICO upheld the application of section 12 of FOIA and the decision to aggregate the requests however recorded a breach of section 10 of FOIA, as we failed to respond to the five requests within the statutory timeframe.. 

2021/22

Information Requests Summary 2020/21

Type 2021/22
FOI 63
EIR 3
Internal Review 4
ICO Referrals 1
Total 71

FOI/EIR 2021/22

Type Total
Number  66
Extended to consider the PIT  5
Refinement / Clarification Required 8
Processed in full  64
Met statutory deadline 63
Withdrawn 0
Longer than statutory deadline 0
Information granted in full 21
Information refused in full 6
Information granted in part & refused in part 19
Information not held by ONR 17
Exemptions used 21
Exceptions used 3
Referred for internal review  4
The outcome of the internal review - decision fully upheld 3
The outcome of the internal review - decision partially upheld 0
Outcome of the internal review - withdrawn 1
Referred to the ICO 1
The decision from the ICO upholding original decision 0

Exemptions used for information refused - Section 2021/22

Type Total
8 - Valid request 1
12 - Cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit 2
21 - Information reasonably accessible by other means 5
22 - Future publication 0
22A - Future publication and research 0
23 - Security bodies 0
24 - Safeguarding national security 3
26 - Defence 1
27 - International relations 0
28 - Relations within the UK 0
29 - The economy 0
30 - Investigations and proceedings 1
31 - Law enforcement 0
32 - Court, inquiry or arbitration records 0
33 - Public audit functions 0
34 - Parliamentary privilege 0
35 - Government policy 0
36 - Prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs 0
37 - Communications with Her Majesty  0
38 - Health and safety 0
39 - The exemption for environmental information 0
40 - Personal information 15
41 - Information provided in confidence 1
42 - Legal professional privilege 0
43 - Commercial Interests 2
44 - Prohibitions on disclosure 0

Exceptions used for info witheld - Reg. 2021/22

Type Total
12 (4) (a) – The information is not held 2
12 (4) (b) – Manifestly unreasonable requests 0
12 (4) (c) – Too general a manner 0
12 (4) (d) – Material in the course of completion 0
12 (4) (e) – Internal Communications 0
12 (5) (a) – Defence, national security, public safety 0
12 (5) (b) – The course of justice and inquiries  0
12 (5) (c) – Intellectual property rights 0
12 (5) (d) – Confidentiality of proceedings 0
12 (5) (e) – Commercial or industrial confidentiality 0
12 (5) (f) – Interests of the information provider 0
12 (5) (g) – Protection of the environment 0
13 – Personal information 1

Lead Area within ONR 2021/22

Area Total
Chief Nuclear Inspector 0
Civil nuclear security and safeguards Division 5
Finance Directorate 8
Governence and Executive Support Office 0
Human Resources Directorate 6
Information and Technology Function 2
New reactors Division 3
Operating facilities Division 12
Policy & Communications Directorate 4
Sellafield, Decommissioning, Fuel and Waste Division 11
Technical Division 13

Comments

*Two FOIs were paused in March 2022 for refinement due to agregation of several similar requests.
** One FOI response issued late due to the volume of information in scope of the request.
*** ICO referral notification received for FOI response issued in March 2022. Decision pending. 

Historic compliance statistics

For statistics on previous years, please see our Annual Report and Accounts.

ICO Complaints – withdrawn

14 April 2021 – Flood risks at Rolls-Royce Raynesway site - In relation to the original FOI response issued on 20 March 2020 - FOI202002075 Flood risks at Rolls-Royce Raynesway site