Frequently asked questions
- Setting up the Government Decontamination Service
- Remit and functions
- GDS in action
- Who pays for decontamination?
Setting up the Government Decontamination Service
Q1. Why has the GDS been set up?
A1. Government has set up an agency to help streamline responsible authorities’ ability to decontaminate the built and open environment following a deliberate or accidental CBRN release. Government also recognizes that it would not be cost-effective for each responsible authority to maintain the level of expertise needed when CBRN events are rare. It was therefore decided to set up a national resource to take some of that burden away from local, and other responsible authorities. The Northern Ireland and Scottish Executives decided to support a single UK GDS rather than establish similar agencies in their jurisdictions.
Q2. Was the GDS set-up because of an increased threat of CBRN terrorism?
A2. No. The establishment of the GDS is part of the Home Office-led programme to strengthen our level of preparedness across the board, it was not brought about by an increased threat of CBRN terrorism. The GDS’s capability to deal with deliberate releases will be transferable and available to deal with accidental ones as well.
Remit and functions
Q3. What powers and responsibilities does the GDS have?
A3. The GDS does not have statutory powers of its own. Responsible authorities have all the powers they need to carry out decontamination and remediation as outlined in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and other legislation. The GDS will help responsible authorities carry out their roles.
Q4. Will the GDS be a one stop shop for all advice on decontamination?
A4. In the event of a CBRN incident it is unlikely that there will be a one stop shop for all decontamination issues. The GDS is the Government's portal for advice on decontamination of the open and built environment and other infrastructure. Our service is to connect those needing information with those organisations best able to provide it. In practice the advice will come from approved specialist suppliers and a range of other specialists.
It must be recognised that the recovery and reoccupation of buildings and the open environment and other infrastructure is secondary to the immediate concerns of human decontamination following an incident. This is the responsibility of the Department of Health and the Health Services, with the help from emergency services.
Q5. Will the GDS be part of the process of determining an appropriate contingency plan?
A5. The GDS is planning to issue generic guidance and is available to answer specific questions, this will help contingency planners determine what is appropriate for their circumstances.
Q6. Will the GDS have a role in monitoring contaminants before and after clean up?
A6. The GDS does not have a specific capability to undertake monitoring, sampling or surveying of contaminated sites, though it can advise on organisations able to provide such capabilities. The Home Office is leading work to determine the monitoring requirements.
Q7. Are GDS responsible for clearing the waste arising from a CBRN or major HAZMAT incident?
A7. The GDS will assist the responsible authority in the co-ordination of decontamination operations if required, but do not have responsibility for the temporary storage, transport or ultimate disposal of waste. The Environment Agency have a regulatory role and will provide advice to those responsible for removing waste during an emergency, helping them manage their compliance with waste regulations. Responsibility for dealing with the waste usually depends on where the waste is located and will normally lie with either the local authority, land/building owner, Highways Agency or County/Metropolitan/Unitary Authority.
GDS in action
Q8. How soon after an incident might the GDS become involved in the decontamination process?
A8. This will depend on the nature of the incident. As the recovery phase should start in parallel to the response phase, we would expect to be contacted soon after the incident occurred and would be available to support the recovery-planning process from the outset, though clearly decontamination cannot begin until the boundaries of the incident are known, forensic investigations have been completed and the incident contained.
Q9. How long will the decontamination and remediation period last?
A9. The government’s policy is that things should be returned to normal as soon as practicable. Incidents are dealt with on a case by case basis. The techniques employed, and the time taken to complete decontamination are dependant the type and amount of contamination present. It should be noted that there is generally no ‘quick fix’ in these situations.
Q10. Who will decide when decontamination is complete?
A10. The responsible authority will usually appoint a recovery working group who will agree with the contracted specialist supplier the standards of decontamination to be achieved. The responsible authority will receive advice from other Government Agencies, so that they can decide the level of contamination removal required to make the building or open environment safe.
The Home Office is leading work on the policy framework and supporting guidance on the issue of standards of decontamination.
Q11. Will the advice from the GDS be specific to a particular incident, or will it be generic in nature, so that the local authority will have to seek its own specialist advice and guidance?
A11. As part of the strategic coordination group working on the recovery phase, the GDS is able to provide elements of both generic and incident-specific advice to the relevant responsible authorities. Practical advice on the specifics of an individual decontamination project would also include close liaison with the specialist suppliers taken on to do the job.
Q12. What is major HAZMAT?
A12. A major HAZMAT for the GDS is to be considered as any incident, regardless of scale that has the potential to overwhelm or does overwhelm the capabilities of a responsible authority as a result of extent, complexity or uniqueness.
Q13. Will GDS project manage a recovery?
A13. The GDS will advise and it’s specialist suppliers will assist in managing the work they have been contact to carry out, but the responsible authority is required to manage and be in all over control of remediation.
Q14. Who are the GDS specialist suppliers?
A14. The identity of the contracted specialist suppliers is confidential, but details will be made available by the GDS to the responsible authority should they need to engage a specialist supplier following an incident. The suppliers cover the chemical, biological and radiological threats.
Q15. Do we have a choice on whether to engage GDS?
A15. Yes, there is no statutory obligation in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and other legislation that requires the responsible authority to request involvement of the GDS. However the GDS suppliers have a validated and proven capability to carry out specialist decontamination. They are covered by a Office of Government Commerce framework contract that was established under the EU procurement process.
Who pays for decontamination?
Q16. Who pays for decontamination of residential property?
A16. It is the responsibility of the owner or occupier. The responsibility is with the householder to ensure adequate insurance cover.
Residential blocks of flats are dealt with as commercial properties for terrorism cover purposes. Cover is optional in that it is an addition to standard cover and there is no statutory obligation to take it out. However there may be contractual obligations imposed by the landlord or lender and policyholders need to check their contract terms.
Q17. Who pays for decontamination of commercial owned property?
A17. It is the responsibility of the owner or occupying business. The establishment of the Pool Re scheme, a partnership between insurers and Government, enabled CBRN contamination cover to be offered on an optional basis for an extra premium. The responsibility is with the owner or occupying business to ensure adequate insurance cover.
Q18. Who pays for decontamination of in the public sector?
A18. In the public sector, central and local government bears its own risk.
Local authorities are expected to include an amount within their annual budget to deal with unforeseen emergencies. Ministers have in the past made additional financial support available to local authorities to assist with the immediate, and unforeseen costs in dealing with the aftermath of emergency incidents. There is no automatic entitlement to assistance from central government.
Page last modified: 3 August 2007
Page published: 12 May 2006