Written question asked by Lord Clark of Windermere (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 January 1997. It was answered by John Major (Conservative) on Tuesday, 21 January 1997 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Question: How much money to date has been paid to the Australian Government in compensation for the nuclear testing carried out by the United Kingdom in the 1950s; what work Her Majesty's Government is currently carrying out with the Australian authorities in this area.

Answer: Dr. David Clark: To ask the Prime Minister how much money to date has been paid to the Australian Government in compensation for the nuclear testing carried out by the United Kingdom in the 1950s; what work Her Majesty's Government are currently carrying out with the Australian authorities in this area; and if he will make a statement. [11455] The Prime Minister: No such compensation has been paid. In 1968, Australia signed an agreement with the UK confirming that the clean-up of all test sites had been completed satisfactorily. However, in the interests of wider Anglo-Australian relations, in 1993, the UK agreed to make an ex gratia payment of £20 million, and now regards the matter as closed.

Secondary information