§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has conducted into the levels of internal radiological contamination of British service personnel and medical auxiliaries who were present at atmospheric British nuclear tests; and if he will arrange for the relevant documents to be posted on his departmental website. [84269]
§ Dr. MoonieStringent safety precautions were in place during the atmospheric nuclear tests and environmental monitoring was carried out at the time. Two comprehensive and independent epidemiological studies were carried out on the Ministry of Defence's behalf by the National Radiological Protection Board, in conjunction with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. The studies showed that participation in the test programme has had no detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life or on their risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases. Copies of both these reports, respectively NRPB reports R214 and R266, are available in the Library of the House. The results of a third study will be published next year.