Nuclear Test Veterans

HC Deb 30 January 1992 vol 202 c655W

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about compensation for nuclear test veterans.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Government are willing to consider claims for compensation from nuclear test participants where any evidence of exposure to radiation can he adduced.

In the absence of recorded levels of exposure, it is only through the statistical studies of the National Radiological Protection Board that it can be determined whether causal links with cancers and leukaemias exist. Its report, published in 1988, demonstrated that no causal link had been found. The National Radiological Protection Board are currently working on a further report which is expected to be complete by mid-1992.