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Dept of Social Security;War Pensions Agency

Answer

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) former service personnel and medical auxiliaries and (b) members of their families, have made appeals to the Pensions Appeals Tribunal for compensation due to exposure to radiation from British nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific since 1970; how many have been awarded compensation; how many are awaiting adjudication; and if he will make a statement. [116014] Mr. Bayley: The administration of War Pensions is a matter for Gordon Hextall, Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend. Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 28 March 2000: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) former service personnel and medical auxiliaries and (b) members of their families, have made appeals to the Pensions Appeals Tribunal for compensation due to exposure to radiation from British nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific since 1970; how many have been awarded compensation and how many are awaiting adjudication. The War Pensions Agency processes claims for war disablement pensions, war widows and other dependants' pensions and associated supplementary allowances under the provisions of the War Pension Scheme. Details of claims relating to exposure to radiation in certain sites, including the South Pacific, are recorded on a radiation database. The earliest date of appeal recorded on the database is 1989. The database shows that from that date 57 service personnel and 31 widows have made appeals to the Pensions Appeal Tribunals. At the 22 March 2000 there have been 27 appeals allowed by the Tribunal of which 21 were former service personnel and 6 were widows. There are currently 5 appeals awaiting adjudication, 4 from former service personnel and 1 widow. I am sorry to tell you that information relating to appeals in respect of exposure to radiation made before 1989 is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. If I can be of any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

347 c164-5W; 116014

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Compensation Appeals Nuclear weapons Radiation exposure Testing War pensions Veterans

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk