§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to arrange for the medical records submitted to the National Radiological Protection Board as part of its inquiry into the medical consequences of the British nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s, to be made available in summary form before the board completes its report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButlerThe Ministry of Defence has provided all information required by the National Radiological Protection Board. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 21 March 1985, at columns579–80, service medical records are not required by the NRPB. I understand that it is not the board's intention to produce any form of interim report.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to make available to the National Radiological Protection Board during its inquiry into the medical consequences of the British nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s the evidence submitted to the Australian Royal Commission examining the same subject.
§ Mr. ButlerThe National Radiological Protection Board has been well aware for some time of the considerable bulk of documentary evidence that has been made available to the Australian Royal Commission. It is free to make any use of this information which it considers necessary.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the date by which the National Radiological Protection Board is expected to have completed its study of the medical consequences of the British nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s.
§ Mr. ButlerIt is expected that, as previously announced, the study will be completed in October 1986.