Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Thursday, 19 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 January 2003. It was answered by Lord Moonie (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 January 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been paid in compensation to ex-servicemen and medical auxiliaries who attended British nuclear tests and have suffered consequent illness.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in compensation to ex- servicemen and medical auxiliaries who attended British nuclear tests and have suffered consequent illness. [89019] Dr. Moonie: The Department's consistent line is that we have every confidence in the independent studies carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund that showed veterans' participation in the nuclear test programme has not had a detectable effect on their expectation of life, or on their risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases. Consequently no compensation has been paid to British nuclear test veterans.

Secondary information