HC Deb 15 January 1985 vol 71 cc83-4W
Mr. Alton

asked the Prime Minister how many records of atomic test veterans have now been surveyed.

The Prime Minister

The study of atomic test veterans which the National Radiological Protection Board is undertaking is progressing to plan, as detailed by the then Minister of State for Defence Procurement in October 1983. About 20,000 British service men and civilians participated in the entire programme; almost all these individuals are known, and their records are being made available to the NRPB for it to consider for inclusion in the study.

Mr. Alton

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on what is being done to assist the Australian Royal Commission's inquiry into the atomic tests held at Maralinga.

The Prime Minister

Her Majesty's Government are devoting very considerable effort to assisting the Australian Royal Commission in the limited time given to it by the Australian Government for executing its inquiries. Priority has been given to making available information from the sources most likely to provide relevant material. So far, the Ministry of Defence has reviewed and supplied some 250 relevant trials reports and other documents; access has been granted to about 100 unique headquarters' files and other documents pertaining to the period of the programmes in advance of their normal 30-year release to the Public Records Office; and 25 United Kingdom witnesses, including high ranking staff in responsible positions during the test programmes., are being assisted to testify.

Mr. Alton

asked the Prime Minister whether British service men were deliberately exposed to the effects of radiation during tests in the South Pacific in the 1950s.

The Prime Minister

There is no truth in the allegations that British service men were used as "guinea pigs". No British service men were exposed unnecessarily to levels of ionising radiation in excess of the prescribed limits. These limits were comparable with those which apply to radiation workers today.

Approximately 15,000 of the 20,000 participants at the tests were not exposed to additional radiation at all. Most of those who were exposed to ionising radiation other than natural background received a radiation dose less than one tenth of the limit prescribed for radiation workers. Only very few (fewer than 30 individuals, service men and civilians, for the entire programme) experienced exposures greater than 70 millisieverts; these exposures were within the special higher integrated dose for cases of extreme necessity and had to be authorised by the test director.

Mr. Alton

asked the Prime Minister how man) people have been included in the survey of atomic tests service men who were not, at the time considered to be at risk from radiation exposure.

The Prime Minister

The National Radiological Protection Board, which is carrying out the study of United Kingdom participants in the United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear weapon tests, is being given information, including dose records, about all the service men and civilians who are known to have been involved in the test programmes. As explained in the NRPB protocol issued in September 1983, the board will consider which participants should be included in the study. The question of how their analysis will take account of the 5,000 or so with dose records is entirely a matter for the board.

Mr. Alton

asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government will extend the survey of service men involved in tests held in the South Pacific in the 1950s to examine genetic effects on children of service men; and when the existing survey will be completed.

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 31 October 1984, at columns 1120–21.

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