§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-service personnel have been awarded pensions within the last year as a result of health problems resulting from their service on(a) Christmas Island and (b) other nuclear test sites. [138235]
§ Mr. CaplinFrom the information held within the Veterans Agency, it is only possible to distinguish two groups. The first is for service on Christmas/Maiden Island (South Pacific). The second is for other nuclear site tests.
Pensions are awarded if disablement is assessed at 20 per cent. or more; if less than 20 per cent. a single gratuity payment is awarded. Over the last year (April—March 2003) there were no cases awarded for 20 per cent. and above for Christmas Island/Maiden Island and two cases were awarded for less than 20 per cent. Over the same period for the second category, five cases were awarded 20 per cent. and above and none were awarded for under 20 per cent.