HC Deb 18 January 1993 vol 217 cc47-8W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the National Radiological Protection Board study into British nuclear test participants will be concluded; and how many participants are projected to be living by this date.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I understand that the National Radiological Protection Board study will be concluded as soon as is practically possible consistent with the maintenance of the highest standards of scientific rigour. It is not possible to predict how many participants will be alive at the time of publication of the report.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation payments have been issued to foreign personnel as a result of British nuclear tests in the south Pacific.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

None.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will release details of radiation dosage levels to all living British nuclear test participants and, in the event of death, to the deceased participant's next of kin.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The recorded radiation exposure is provided on request to the individual test participant or, in the event of death, to the next of kin.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the maximum possible distance between locations on mainland Christmas island and the Grapple Y nuclear test.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The mustering location at the greatest distance from the Grapple Y test was 43km away.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all dosage levels for radiation contamination have been released to the National Radiological Protection Board for their study into possible illness in British nuclear test participants.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

All recorded radiation exposures of participants in the United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear weapons tests and experimental programmes were passed to the National Radiological Protection Board at the time of its first study.