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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list research projects his Department (a) has funded in the last five years and (b) is funding into the health outcomes of (i) service personnel who participated in UK nuclear tests and (ii) their offspring. [79188] Dr. Moonie: In the last five years the Ministry of Defence has funded a study by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) into the incidence of multiple myeloma, other cancers and other causes of death amongst nuclear test veterans. This study follows on from two earlier studies, the results of which were published in 1988 and 1993. The results of this third study are expected to be published early next year. Funding is also provided to the NRPB for the maintenance of a database that has been used during the compilation of these studies. No funding has been provided for health studies of the offspring of nuclear test veterans. Current information on radiation health effects suggests that studies of cancer among people exposed to radiation are likely to prove a more sensitive means of detecting such effects than studies of their children. There is no scientific or medical evidence that shows that the health or other physical problems suffered by the offspring of nuclear test veterans can be attributed to their father's or grandfather's participation in the test programme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

79188; 392 c461-2W;392 c473-4W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Armed forces Health Nuclear weapons Radiation exposure Research Testing Veterans

Link

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