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Mr A M Dransfield
Request -
xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Direct tel: +44(0)1392 885680
Direct fax: +44(0)1392885681
Our ref: 0022535
24 September 2012
Dear Mr Dransfield
Request for Information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Your correspondence dated 29 July 2012 2010 has been considered to be a request for
information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
You requested:
"Please provide me with copies of the following documents
1.Lightning Protection System Test Results since 2004.
2.Lightning Risk Assessment Reports since 2004.
3.As Built Drainage Drawings for the Met Office.
4. Specific details of the Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS)
5.Details of the PetrollOillnterceptors installed at the Met Office."
In respect of question 2 of your request, following a search of our paper and electronic records I
have established that the information you requested is not held by the Met Office.
In respect of question 1 your request has been assessed, and this letter is to inform you that the
Met Office does hold information covered by this request from 2006. Part of the information,
namely locations, in respect of test results is withheld in accordance with the qualified exemptions
detailed below.
In respect of questions 3, 4 and 5 your request has been assessed, and this letter is to inform you
that the Met Office does hold information covered by these requests. This information is withheld
in accordance with the following qualified exemptions under the terms of the FOIA:
• section 24(1) FOIA -
• section 26(1) FOIA -
British Islands or any colony; or (b) the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed
Forces of the Crown or any forces cooperating with them;
• section 38(1) FOIA -
health of any individual, or endanger the safety of any individual; and
• section 31(1 )(a) FOIA -
crime.
These exemptions are qualified exemptions and, as such, it has been necessary to decide
whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption
outweighs the public interest in disclosure. Separate public interest tests were carried out of each
of the exemptions.
FitzRoy Road, Exeter
Devon, EXl 3PB
United Kingdom
Tel: 0870 900 0100
Fax: 0870 900 5050
www.metoffice.gov.uk
In relation to each of the exemptions the Met Office considered that disclosure would be in the
public interest because disclosure of information would enhance openness and transparency to the
public so that they may understand, discuss, and scrutinise the operational and health and safety
activities of the Met Office. However, the Met Office considered that disclosure would not be in the
public interest because of the following factors relating to each exemption:
Section 24(1) FOIA -
for the purpose of safeguarding national security. The security of the nation includes its well-
and the protection of its defence and foreign policy interests, as well as its survival. UK law
expressly recognises the following as constituting potential threats to, or otherwise being relevant
to, the safety or well-
government's defence and foreign policies. The protection of the Met Office's ability to provide
meteorological services in support of the maintenance and protection of the Critical National
Infrastructure, without which this Critical National Infrastructure would not be able to operate
effectively, is also relevant to national security. The Met Office is a secure Ministry of Defence site
and provides weather services, forecasts and warnings to global aviation and airports, UK transport
networks (road and rail) and the utilities industry among others. This information could potentially
be used for activities which constitute a threat to the safety or well-
information could potentially be used for activities which constitute a threat to the Met Office's
ability to provide meteorological services in support of the maintenance and protection of the
Critical National Infrastructure and could assist parties with malicious intent in the planning and
execution of attacks against the Met Office. The information is current and operational information
of the Met Office.
Section 26(1) FOIA -
prejudice (a) the defence of the British Islands or any colony; or (b) the capability, effectiveness, or
security of the Armed Forces of the Crown or any forces cooperating with them. It covers for
example, plans and measures for the maintenance of essential supplies and services that are or
would be needed in time of conflict. This information could potentially be used for activities which
constitute a prejudice to the Met Office's ability to provide meteorological services that are or would
be needed in time of conflict and in support of the government's defence and foreign policies. The
Armed Forces would not be able to operate effectively without the Met Office's services. The
information is current and operational information of the Met Office.
Section 38(1) FOIA -
endanger the physical or mental health of any individual, or endanger the safety of any individual.
The exemption can apply equally to a member of the public and Met Office employees. It may
relate to information that allows individuals or groups to be located and consequently targeted and
attacked and disclosure of plans and policies relating to the accommodation of individuals. It may
also relate to information regarding the Met Office's ability to provide meteorological services in
support of the maintenance and protection of the Critical National Infrastructure, without which this
Critical National Infrastructure would not be able to operate effectively, from actions intended to
cause catastrophic damage and/or cause death or serious injury. In addition to the considerations
relating to national security above, this information could potentially be used for activities which
constitute a threat to the safety or well-
Section 31(1)(a) FOIA -
to, prejudice the prevention of crime. This exemption is not limited in its applicability to public
authorities with formal crime functions. The disclosure of this information would or would be likely
to prejudice the prevention of crime because it could assist parties with malicious intent in the
planning and execution of attacks or any other criminal activity against the Met Office. Disclosure
of this information could be used by parties wishing to gain access to the Met Office for unlawful or
criminal purposes and could assist in the perpetration of crime including theft of documentation or
software containing restricted MOD information.
Taking all these factors into consideration, and bearing in mind that there is a presumption in the
FOIA towards release, the Met Office concludes that the balance of the public interest is in favour
of withholding the information requested at 3, 4 and 5, and redacting locations in the document
requested at 1.
We hope the reasons above for withholding information answers your enquiry.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal
review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the
response to your original letter and should be addressed to me in the first instance. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
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 internal
review process has been com pleted.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe
House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, or online: http://www.ico.gov.uk.
Yours sincerely
FOI Manager
FitzRoy Road, Exeter
Devon, EXl 3PB
United Kingdom
Tel: 087090001 00
Fax: 0870 900 5050
www.metoffice.gov.uk
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