HC Deb 10 December 1996 vol 287 cc157-8W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records his Department maintains in respect of when tests of radioactive material on humans began at the atomic research establishments at(a) Harwell and (b) Aldermaston. [8288]

Mr. Soames

Other than to emphasise that Harwell is not a MoD establishment, I have nothing to add to the response I gave to the hon Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) on 2 December 1996,Official Report, column 534.

Dr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring(a) has taken place and (b) there is currently of the health of people who were the subject of tests on the effects of radioactive material. [8295]

Mr. Soames

I have nothing to add to the response I gave to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) on 2 December 1996,Official Report, column 534–35).

Dr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the basis for the letter dated 9 February from the manager, administration and public relations at Aldermaston in respect of radiation experiments on human subjects at Aldermaston. [8289]

Mr. Soames

I assume the hon. Member is referring to a letter dated 9 February, 1994, which was sent by the manager administration and public relations, AWE Aldermaston, in response to an inquiry from Dr. A. Victorian about human radiation experiments at AWE. It was considered by my Department at the time that his inquiry had been prompted by publicity about unethical experiments conducted by the US authorities many years ago; hence the terms of the reply. Details of Aldermaston's involvement in a number of entirely ethical experiments carried out in the 1980s were forwarded to Dr. Victorian in December last year in response to his subsequent inquiries. The suggestion of denials does not therefore arise.

Dr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for compensating people subjected to experimental exposure to radioactive material if they subsequently develop health problems associated with such exposure. [8290]

Mr. Soames

My Department will pay compensation whenever it is properly due. We are not aware of any compensation claim in which a claimant could show, either to my Department or in a court of law, that he has an injury or illness which was, more likely than not, caused by experimental exposure to radiation.