Review of nuclear archive records update - July 2021
Updated 17 January 2024
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The review of nuclear related files in the ES and AB series held in the National Archives is being conducted in 5 stages. Stages 1, 2 and 3 have now been completed, and approximately 38,000 files are being released back to public access.
Stage 1 was based on two file series deemed unlikely to contain relevant information. Stage 2 was a review of selected records in terms of original classification and stage 3 was based on reviewing records by their date of creation. Now that these stages are complete, the majority of these files are being released back to public access, with the remaining files subject to further scrutiny in stages 4 and 5.
Stages 4 and 5 involve in-depth review of the remaining files and due to the nature of the work which must be completed by Subject Matter Experts, is anticipated to take longer than the previous stages.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to receive an unprecedented number of requests under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (the Act) 2000 for files currently under review. As announced in January 2021, due to the FOI requests placing disproportionate burden on the MOD and the public interest in the completion of the review, all requests are being considered against the burden criteria under Section 14(1) of the Act. The application of Section 14(1) of the Act remains under continuous assessment by MOD during the file review process.