HC Deb 11 June 2002 vol 386 c1164W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on compensation for the families of nuclear test veterans. [60780]

Dr. Moonie

The Ministry of Defence has every confidence in the independent studies carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund that showed veterans' participation in the nuclear test programme has not had a detectable effect on their expectation of life, or on their risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases. Consequently grounds do not exist for compensation to be paid to British nuclear test veterans or their surviving spouses and families. There are no plans to review this position.