§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many further(a) deaths, (b) leukaemias and (c) multiple myelomas occurring to nuclear test veterans and to members of the control group have become known to the National Radiological Protection Board in the five years that have passed since the National Radiological Protection Board study was completed;
(2) if he will request the National Radiological Protection Board to produce an interim report examining the developments there have been since the report on nuclear test veterans was completed.
§ Mr. SainsburyAt this stage, I have nothing to add to my answer to the right hon. Gentleman on 19 May 1989 at column326.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will discuss with the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association the completeness of the service medical records used in the National Radiological Protection Board study of nuclear test veterans.
§ Mr. SainsburyI refer the right hon. Member to paragraphs 5.5, 7.5 and 8.1 of the National Radiological Protection Board report 214 of January 1988 where the completeness of service records is discussed. I can add nothing further to that.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will request the national Radiological Protection Board as part of its study of nuclear test veterans, to consult the United States scientists who provided the evidence to the United States Government on their nuclear test veterans.
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§ Mr. SainsburyIt would not be appropriate for the Government to instruct the NRPB on how it should conduct its work. However, I am confident that the National Radiological Protection Board, comprising independent experts, will consult whoever it feels necessary in order to further its understanding of matters relating to the nuclear test veteran studies.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what analysis was made by the National Radiological Protection Board of the incidence amongst nuclear test veterans of the 13 cancers for which the United States Government are now willing to pay compensation to their nuclear test veterans.
§ Mr. SainsburyI refer the right hon. Gentleman to tables 7.1–7.15, 8.1–8.3, and tables F1–F13 contained in the National Radiological Protection Board report 214 of January 1988 where comprehensive analyses of the information pertaining to different types of cancers are listed.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the cost of obtaining information about the ill health and mortality of nuclear test veterans in the five years since the previous cut-off point;
(2) what is the estimated cost of analysing the information obtained since the cut-off date used for the first National Radiological Protection Board report on nuclear test veterans;
(3) what was the cost of the National Radiological Protection Board report on nuclear test veterans; and what proportion of it arose from establishing the names of the nuclear test veterans, their involvement in the nuclear tests and the establishment of an appropriate sample.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe information is not available in the form requested. The total cost to the Ministry of Defence of the NRPB contract to date has been £540,000.