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Responses to GDF consultation

The government has published all responses received to the recent consultation on the siting process for geological disposal. A short report summarising these responses and reports of events held during the consultation have also been published.

This is not an official Government Response because it does not draw any conclusions about changes to the siting process.

Later in the year we will publish a revised siting policy alongside a Government Response which explains how what we heard during consultation has informed the revised policy.

Stakeholder events

To support its GDF siting review consultation, DECC commissioned a number of engagement events with the public and various stakeholders during November and December 2013 at locations in England and Wales.

What we heard during these events will allow the government to understand people鈥檚 views on its proposals; it will also help to inform policy development, although it is important to note that the events complemented the consultation rather than acting as formal responses. DECC encouraged all attendees to submit formal responses alongside their attendance.

The views expressed in these reports summarise those of participants in the workshops, not necessarily those of DECC; nor do they necessarily reflect government policy.

Why events were 鈥榠nvitation only鈥� and not open to anyone who wanted to attend

Formal responses to the consultation document were the principal means by which the public and institutional stakeholders could comment on, and influence, government鈥檚 proposals. The events held during the consultation period were an additional means of eliciting views on our proposals, and encouraging informed responses to the consultation from a diverse and balanced range of respondents.

A webchat was held on 18 November 2013 to respond to any questions from the wider public and stakeholders. and responses to any outstanding questions are available.

Roles during events

Three organisations delivered the events: Jacobs UK Ltd, IPSOS Mori and 3KQ Ltd.

The events were supported by and engagement with the public during this process was conducted in accordance with the Sciencewise 鈥淕uiding Principles鈥� for public dialogues on science and technology.

In accordance with these guiding principles and to ensure independence and oversight, DECC convened a group of representatives from three external organisations to act as a 鈥榮takeholder reference group鈥� before, during and after the events. The organisations involved represented three sectoral stakeholder groups: Non-governmental organisations, nuclear industry (Nuclear Industry Association) and local authorities (Nuclear Legacy Advisory Forum). The group advised on the provision of balanced and objective information; participants to be invited and on the reporting of the events.

Finally, in order for DECC to learn from the engagement events, it engaged an independent auditor ICARUS Ltd to evaluate the events and provide a 鈥樷�檒essons learned鈥欌�� report. The stakeholder reference group also prepared a note with its own reflections on the engagement events. This will be appended to the ICARUS report.