The Ministry of Defence has blocked the Scottish Government’s environmental watchdog from releasing information about radioactive pollution from the Clyde nuclear bomb bases for the last nine years.
Emails released under freedom of information (FoI) law reveal that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) asked the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) not to publish information about “environmental issues with radioactivity” at Faslane and Coulport near Helensburgh to protect “national security”.
In response to FoI requests from The Ferret, Sepa has refused to release more than 20 files about radioactive problems at the bases since 2016, and redacted others. We have appealed to the Scottish Information Commissioner, David Hamilton.
The secrecy has been condemned as “unacceptable” by a former Sepa chief executive, who previously clashed with the MoD over the nuclear bases. In the past the MoD had repeatedly “applied pressure” on Sepa to keep radioactive issues confidential to avoid “embarrassment” about its failures, he said.
Campaigners also accused the MoD of covering up information that could damage its image. National security was being used as “ a fig leaf” by an “obstructive” MoD, they said.
Sepa defended consulting the MoD about the release of information on the nuclear bases, and insisted it was “Sepa alone” that decided. The MoD stressed it had “robust” arrangements with Sepa, and claimed that previously reported events at the Clyde bases had “no impact on the environment”.
Sepa has previously released extensive details of radioactive problems at the nuclear bases under FoI law. In 2009 the Guardian reported that there had been leaks of radioactive coolant into the Firth of Clyde from nuclear submarines in 2004, 2007 and 2008.
But in recent years the MoD has clamped down on releasing information about the UK nuclear weapons programme, citing national security. The Ferret reported in 2017 that the MoD had censored its annual nuclear safety assessments.
In October 2019 The Ferret made an FoI request to Sepa for information on “any environmental issues with radioactivity” at Faslane and Coulport since 2016. But this request, along with almost a thousand others, was abandoned by Sepa following a criminal cyber attack in 2020.
We resubmitted our request in July 2023. Sepa released a number of files covering 2016-19, but withheld 18, five explicitly because of “national security concerns” and two because they could prejudice Sepa’s ability to conduct “inquiries of a criminal or disciplinary nature”.
We submitted another FoI request to Sepa in May 2024 asking for updated information on radioactive issues at the nuclear bases since 2019. In response Sepa released two files, but withheld a further four on the grounds that they “could jeopardise site security, public safety, nation defence security”.
Sepa’s refusal to release the files is under investigation by the Scottish Information Commissioner, following two appeals by The Ferret in August and September 2024.
‘Difficult’ to withhold information about radioactive pollution
Now, in response to another FoI request, Sepa has released email correspondence with the MoD about The Ferret’s FoI requests on Faslane and Coulport. These show that the MoD asked Sepa not to publish certain files.
Sepa emailed the MoD in October and November 2023 with files it proposed to release asking whether they “should be disclosed”. The MoD replied on 27 November saying that “HQ colleagues” wanted information withheld, though exactly how much or what has been redacted.
Other emails in November 2023 show internal discussions between MoD officials about what Sepa should and should not release. An MoD radiation team had requested that information be withheld, though again it is unclear how much or what.
According to the MoD, the information should be kept secret under section 10(5)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations) 2004. This says that information can be withheld if “its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially, international relations, defence, national security or public safety.”
Sepa said that it would conduct a public interest test, as required under the environment information regulations. “Can you please provide a bit more information around why this should be redacted?” it asked the MoD.
On 11 April 2024 Sepa again emailed the MoD asking why some information should be kept secret. “It is extremely difficult to withhold information related to emissions to the environment,” Sepa said.
“Therefore, we require further details to understand why this should be withheld to enable us to consider if there are any relevant exceptions.”
No reply from the MoD has been released. Sepa emailed the MoD again in May and June 2024 asking for their approval to release further information.
Secrecy over radioactive pollution ‘unacceptable’
Professor Campbell Gemmell was Sepa’s chief executive between 2003 and 2012 when it released more than 400 pages about safety at Faslane and Coulport. The MoD were “very challenging to deal with”, he recalled.
He said: “The UK ministry applied pressure repeatedly on radioactive waste issues seeking to keep relevant environmental information out of the public domain. Putting similar effort into remedy would be better.”
Gemmell described the secrecy over radioactive pollution as “unacceptable”, arguing that freedom of information law “should not be used as a fig leaf to cover MoD’s embarrassment at their failures”.
He added: “These continued, longstanding failures should be exposed and MoD should be held accountable. If Sepa wants to be a respected and responsible regulator, accountable in Scotland, I’d urge it to treat the MoD as any other potential or actual polluter.”
The Scottish Greens criticised the MoD’s approach as “very concerning and obstructive”. It was “clearly in the public interest” to know about pollution of the Clyde, said the party’s co-leader and former minister, Patrick Harvie.
“All too often, national security is used as a go-to excuse for covering up things that could be difficult or embarrassing for people in power, and this looks a lot like it is one of those cases,” he added.
“Nuclear weapons are a moral and costly abomination that have no place in modern Scotland.”
The Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament pointed out that it was well known that the four nuclear-armed Vanguard-class submarines based on the Clyde were ageing and overstretched. They were more likely to leak, argued the group’s co-vice chair, David Kelly.
“This information is not a threat to national security. But it is a threat to the image of a responsible Ministry of Defence, that pollutes our environment with ever-increasing amounts of radioactive isotopes in the name of keeping us safe.”
Events at nuclear bases had ‘no impact on the environment’
Sepa emphasised that it took its obligations under freedom of information law seriously and had invested in strengthening its access to information service.
“Where Sepa holds information provided by a third party, we may consult with the third party for their views to help inform our release decision, which is for Sepa alone to make,” said a spokesperson.
“The Scottish Information Commissioner will investigate Sepa’s handling of the relevant requests through his appeal process. It would not be appropriate for Sepa to make further comment at this time.”
An MoD spokesperson said: “We take our responsibilities for the safety and security of radioactive materials very seriously and have robust arrangements for compliance with environmental legislation under clear agreements with Sepa.
“The events at HMNB Clyde and Coulport previously reported by Sepa had no impact on the environment and demonstrate we have a strong and transparent safety culture that learns from experience and takes action to prevent recurrence.”
Emails from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Ministry of Defence
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Cover image thanks to Ministry of Defence.
