Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Astor of Hever (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 July 2011.

Armed Services: Compensation

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the settlement of the claim for compensation by veterans of British nuclear tests staged in the Pacific and in Western Australia during the 1950s.

Answer: Compensation claims received by the Ministry of Defence, including those from the nuclear test veterans, are considered in accordance with the department's legal liability. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation we do so. This and previous Governments' consistent position is that there is no evidence of excess illness or mortality among the veterans as a group which could be linked to their participation in the tests. This is borne out by three studies conducted by the independent National Radiological Protection Board. In such circumstances, there are no grounds for compensation to be paid to British nuclear test veterans.

Secondary information