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Armed Forces: Atomic Test Veterans

My right honourable friend the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Andrew Robathan) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Government are committed to providing effective, through-life health services for our service and ex-service personnel. As part of that commitment, last year we commissioned an independent health needs audit by Miles and Green Associates. I am announcing today the publication of their report. I would also like to express my appreciation for the help and support provided to Miles and Green Associates by the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA). The audit records the direct experience and views of nuclear test veterans about their health and social care needs. Whatever their particular health needs, most respondents indicated that, in general, they felt their health and social care needs were being met by the NHS although a number of issues were raised about access to social care. The veterans also made suggestions for the future relating to general health and social care needs, those more specific to veterans and ways in which relations and communications with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) could be improved. The MoD will now consider the report’s findings and suggestions made by the veterans in detail and in consultation with other government departments and will wish to work with the BNTVA going forward on looking at the various issues raised. A copy of the full report will be placed in the Library of the House and will also be available on the MoD’s website at the following address: http://www. mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/HealthandSafety/NuclearTests/.