HL Deb 17 February 1997 vol 578 cc36-7WA
Lord Ashley of Stoke

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they propose to pay nuclear test veterans following the finding of the European Commission of Human Rights that the convention had been violated and that compensation should be paid to veterans for material and non-material damage.

Earl Howe

The European Commission of Human Rights concluded that there had been a violation of Article 6(1) of the Convention, in that the applicants did not enjoy a right of effective access to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal because of a lack of access to relevant records. As the case has now been referred to the European Court of Human Rights, the payment of compensation does not fall to be considered at this stage. The Government dispute the Commission's findings and will contest this case.