Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Thursday, 14 January 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 January 1999. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 January 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will state his policy in respect of the application by Fijian veterans for compensation for the effects on their health of their exposure to atmospheric nuclear tests on Christmas Island.

Answer: Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state his policy in respect of the application by Fijian veterans for compensation for the effects on their health of their exposure to atmospheric nuclear tests on Christmas Island. [66428] Mr. Spellar: My Department has not received any claims for compensation from Fijian veterans. At the time of the tests, precautions were taken to safeguard the health of those in the area. The effectiveness of these precautions is borne out by independent studies of the health of British nuclear test veterans undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board and Imperial Cancer Research Fund, which found no evidence of excessive illness or mortality among the veterans as a group which could be linked to their participation in the tests or to exposure to radiation as a result of the tests.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 66428; 323 c461-2W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Compensation Cancer Health hazards Radiation National Radiological Protection Board Nuclear weapons Testing Christmas Island Fiji Imperial Cancer Research Fund Veterans