§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations on compensation he has received from nuclear test veterans since June 2001; and if he will make a statement. [80125]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence has received seven representations in the form of letters from nuclear test veterans concerning compensation since 1 June 2001. The Veterans Agency has received 37 new applications for War Pensions associated with participation in nuclear tests since 1 June 2001.
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 which showed that for the veterans as a group their 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.