Alex Passa

This article is part of the Counter-Terrorism Portal project of Spinwatch.

Alex Passa is a member of the The Horizon Scanning and Response Team is part of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.

Passa attended the Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group meeting at the Scottish Executive, St Andrews House, Edinburgh on 12 July 2007. According to the minutes of the meeting he spoke on Agenda Item 5. New developments and issues, about the back ground to STAC (Science and Technical Advice Cell). STAC was 'announced following the Buncefield and Litvinenko incidents. This replaces the previous HAT/HAG.'(Health Advice Team) Passa went on to note:

A weakness has been identified in providing Gold command with appropriate science

and technical advice. The guidance currently applies to England only but has been offered to DA’s as good practice. Local responders have responsibility to implement the guidance in their own area.

Colin Ramsay stated that Health Protection Scotland is part of the NHS and not HPA,

therefore, for an emergency that occurs in Scotland the NHS will take the lead and not HPA. A first draft of the guidance for Scotland had been completed in which greater emphasis will be placed on the importance of health components in exercises.

Bob Powell welcomed the guidance, since it recognises the importance of the

provision of technical advice. However no specific guidance was provided on the interrelationship between the roles of the GTA and the STAC/STAC Lead, which both cover the provision of technical advice to Gold. Therefore there is a need to review the application of the STAC guidance to the nuclear dimension and NEPLG will facilitate this. It is important that any changes to emergency arrangements are tested and any issues that are raised are reflected into the final revised guidance which Cabinet Office will then issue as a more detailed supplement for the nuclear dimension. It was noted that the STAC will be formed of personnel with the relevant knowledge and experience appropriate to the incident. The meeting expressed the view that it is essential that the GTA role is retained as it provides key advice to Gold.

Action: Bob to produce further guidance in consultation with NEPLG for

Cabinet Office to circulate.