Written question asked by Emma Lewell (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 (named day). It was answered by Louise Sandher-Jones (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Radiation Exposure: Testing
- Question
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds information on UK participation in civilian radiation experiments conducted by the US during the Cold War.
- Answer
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There is no evidence of any UK participation in unethical US radiation experiments on humans.
Officials located ministerial correspondence dating from 1996 that summarise the details of UK conducted voluntary civilian experiments involving the use of low-level radioactive material at Harwell, Porton Down and AWE Aldermaston, dating back to the 1950s. These experiments were conducted appropriately and with due regard to the health and safety of the individuals involved who received a radiation dose significantly less than average national UK background radiation exposure. No reported illnesses or fatalities have resulted from these studies.
I will place a copy of that document in the Library of the House.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 77522
- Session
- 2024-26
- Related items
- Subjects
- Civilians Radiation exposure Testing USA
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2025-10-20 17:53:39 +0100
- URI
- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/commons/2024-26/77522
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