Cleared? I think not
You cannot be 'Cleared' to do anything on a RIS. It stands for Radar INFORMATION service. If you have an ATCO telling you this they ought to be sent back to training !!! Equally any pilot who doesn't understand ATSORA.
I hope ATCOs are still using the phraseology about terrain clearance. It could save them their licence/a long CM, if, God forbid, something else like the tragic F15 accident happens.