HC Deb 29 January 1985 vol 72 c149W
Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state Her Majesty's Government's position on proposals for limiting nuclear tests to 150 kilo tonnes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Butler

The United Kingdom Government fully support the Threshold Test Ban Treaty of 1974 between the United States and the USSR, which limits nuclear tests to 150 kilo tonnes, and United Kingdom nuclear tests are conducted within this limit.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if blood tests were taken from service personnel before and after nuclear tests in Australia and Christmas Island; and whether records are available.

Mr. Butler

Every United Kingdom service man involved in the test programmes was given a medical examination beforehand. The purpose of this was to determine his fitness to participate. In appropriate cases, this included a blood test. A record of any medical condition so revealed would have been included in the service man's medical record.