Skip to main content

Written question asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative) on Monday, 1 September 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 September 2025. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 15 September 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Veterans: Radiation Exposure

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 4 August (HL 9670) relating to nuclear test veterans, when they reset their relationship with test veterans and the organisations that support them; when and whether any announcement was made about this change in the relationship; and what precisely was announced.

Original answer

This Government is deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme. We recognise their Service and the huge contribution they have made to the UK’s security.

A priority for the Government when we entered office was to reset our relationship with Nuclear Test Veterans. This has been done through Ministerial and official-level meetings with organisations representing Nuclear Test Veterans and with Parliamentarians, and initiatives including the records review. No standalone announcement was made about this reset, but we have referred to it in public statements and in Parliament. The Secretary of State for Defence and the Minister for Veterans and People most recently met a Nuclear Test Veteran organisation and members of Parliament on 1 September 2018.

The answer was corrected by Lord Coaker (Labour)

on Monday, 29 September 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Corrected answer

This Government is deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme. We recognise their Service and the huge contribution they have made to the UK’s security.

A priority for the Government when we entered office was to reset our relationship with Nuclear Test Veterans. This has been done through Ministerial and official-level meetings with organisations representing Nuclear Test Veterans and with Parliamentarians, and initiatives including the records review. No standalone announcement was made about this reset, but we have referred to it in public statements and in Parliament. The Secretary of State for Defence and the Minister for Veterans and People most recently met a Nuclear Test Veteran organisation and members of Parliament on 1 September 20182025.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL9947
Session
2024-26
Related items
Veterans: Radiation Exposure
Monday, 4 August 2025
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Nuclear weapons Radiation exposure Veterans
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk