§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many former service personnel who participated in the nuclear tests programmes in Australia and the South Pacific have been awarded war pensions after they developed(a) leukaemia, excluding chronic lymphatic and (b) multiple myeloma; when was 497W the first time that former service personnel were awarded war pensions after developing these illnesses; and if he will make a statement. [121615]
§ Mr. BayleyThe administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. Gordon Hextall. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mrs. Ann Winterton, dated 12 May 2000:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many former service personnel who participated in the nuclear tests programmes in Australia and South Pacific have been awarded war pensions after they developed (a) leukaemia, excluding chronic lymphatic and (b) multiple myeloma; when was the first time that former service personnel were awarded war pensions after developing these illnesses; and if he will make a statement.The War Pensions Agency processes claims for war disablement and war widows' pensions and for associated supplementary allowances. Under the war pensions scheme, awards may be made in respect of any condition which is due to any service in the armed forces.We do collect statistics of all claims for war pensions from British nuclear test veterans who believe that they might have been exposed during service to excessive radiation. However, these also include claims from personnel who served, for example, on nuclear submarines.The statistics at 10th May 2000 are as follows:
- Leukaemia: 9 cases (5 disablement, 4 widows)
- Multiple myeloma: 13 cases (10 disablement, 3 widows)
You will wish to know that the background to these awards is that as a result of concern amongst some test participants about the effects that the participation may have on their health, the Ministry of Defence commissioned an independent study by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) in 1988 to investigate the subsequent health of participants. The study compared the mortality and cancer incidence in over 20,000 test participants with that of a similar-sized control group of ex-servicemen who had not participated in the test programme.The 1988 NRPB Report and the Department's position
The NRPB Report published in 1988 confirmed that participation in the UK tests has not had a detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life, nor on their risk of developing cancer in general. It did, however, raise a reasonable doubt that leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) and multiple myeloma might be due to participation. Whilst the NBPB Report did not causally relate leukaemia and multiple myeloma specifically to participation in the nuclear weapons tests, its' evidence was nevertheless accepted as raising a reasonable doubt that leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) and multiple myeloma may have resulted from such participation. Thus, any claim for war pension in respect of disablement or death due to leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) and multiple myeloma was likely to succeed. This policy was effective from 28th January 1988.The 1993 NRPB Report
The study was extended and the second NRPB Report was issued in 1993. This confirmed the overall conclusion of the 1988 Report, that participation in the tests had no detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life, nor on their risk of developing most cancers. It concluded that the small hazard of multiple myeloma suggested by the 1988 Report was not supported by the additional data, although the possibility of some small risk of developing leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) in the first 25 years after participation could not be ruled out.As a result of this later Report, it is now the Secretary of State's normal policy to accept any new claim in respect of leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) if the participant developed the condition within 25 years of his participation in the tests. This change was effective from 11th December 1993. War Pensions 498W already in payment to test participants or their widows in respect of disablement or death due to leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) or multiple myeloma were not affected by that decision.Evidence of service-related ionising radiation exposure
Should there be reliable evidence of service-related ionising radiation and where there is a recognised link between the claimed condition and such exposure, an award of war pension will be considered.The Secretary of State does not accept evidence of participation in the nuclear tests as itself equating to proof of service-related ionising radiation exposure.If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.
§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for war pensions by British nuclear test veterans have been(a) made and (b) awarded to date. [121303]
§ Mr. BayleyThe administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. Gordon Hextall. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Andrew Welsh, dated 12 May 2000:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many claims for war pension by British nuclear test veterans have been (a) made and (b) awarded to date.The War Pensions Agency processes claims for war disablement and war widows' pensions, and for associated supplementary allowances. Under the war pensions scheme awards may be made in respect of any condition which is due to any service in the armed forces. Unfortunately, our statistics do not specifically record the number of claims from, and awards to, ex-service personnel whose service included participation in the British nuclear test programme. To obtain that precise information would require a clerical exercise which could only be carried out at disproportionate costs.However, we do have statistics of claims for war pension from British nuclear test veterans who believe that they might have been exposed during service to excessive ionising radiation, but these include claims from personnel who served, for example, in nuclear submarines.At 31st March 2000. these statistics record 1,228 claims which resulted in 467 awards, but these are for a miscellany of conditions, some of which have no connection to participation in the test programme.If I can be of any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to contact me.