A review of archived files held by the Ministry of Defence is being undertaken. This will take some time and I will write to the hon. Member once this has concluded.

Information on UK military equipment that may have been contaminated by UK or US nuclear tests or how it was subsequently disposed is not held centrally. To search all the Department's historic records that may contain this information could only be done at disproportionate cost.

For reasons of medical confidentiality and data protection, disclosing individuals' medical records to third parties requires the explicit consent of each data subject. The Ministry of Defence will consider all such requests on a case by case basis.

Where the data subject is deceased relatives can request their healthcare records, albeit there is no automatic right to access. Patient confidentiality can be over-ridden and records released if there is a legal claim as a result of the death. Again, each such request would be considered on a case by case basis.

Pursuant to the Answer I gave the hon. Member on 1 April 2019 to Question 237633, to ascertain what blood and urine tests may have been undertaken, the information sought would require the individual medical record of each of the personnel present at the UK nuclear tests to be located and reviewed. These records are not held centrally and to provide the information could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Any records that exist of blood or urine samples taken at the UK atomic weapon tests may be retained in the serviceman's record which if held could be at either the Government's or Ministry of Defence's archive. These medical records are unlikely to be collated in a form related to samples or incidences.

Any records that exist of blood or urine samples taken at the UK atomic weapon tests may be retained in the serviceman's record which if held could be at either the Government's or Ministry of Defence's archive. These medical records are unlikely to be collated in a form related to samples or incidences.

The numbers provided in the table below relate to the number of drug tests administered each calendar year.

*These figures are for the Naval Service which consists of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.

Although the selection of personnel for compulsory drug tests is primarily random, a small percentage of personnel are repeatedly selected for testing. Consequently, the number of personnel tested each year does not directly correlate to the number of drug tests completed.

We are unable to locate any information related to your question.

The Ministry of Defence is unable to locate any information that suggests that Atomic Weapons Research Establishment staff took blood samples for radiological monitoring at the tests. Service personnel who were present may have had blood samples taken during their career, but these individual military medical records are not held centrally.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is unable to locate any information regarding whether any advice was given to participants of the UK nuclear tests regarding the possibility of genetic damage.

The MOD does hold documents which confirm that regulations were in place to ensure that protection and safety information was given by the officer responsible to all personnel involved in each task. This included subjects such as basic training in nuclear weapon effects and health physics for all ranks, personal protection and issue and use of protective clothing and dosemeters and training in radiological safety.

Neither the Ministry of Defence (MOD) or the Atomic Weapons Establishment hold any information regarding a flight of Canberra WH 980 on 30 April 1958.

The MOD has reviewed the 76 Sqn RAF Operational Record Book which contains the detailed list of all flights undertaken by 76 Sqn at Operation Grapple Y. This document shows flights by Canberra WH 980 on 1, 3, 5, 16, 18, 22, 25 and 28 April 1958, but does not include any reference to a flight on 30 April 1958. The 76 Sqn RAF Operational Record Book is publicly available at the National Archives.

Neither the Ministry of Defence (MOD) or the Atomic Weapons Establishment hold any information regarding a flight of Canberra WH 980 on 30 April 1958.

The MOD has reviewed the 76 Sqn RAF Operational Record Book which contains the detailed list of all flights undertaken by 76 Sqn at Operation Grapple Y. This document shows flights by Canberra WH 980 on 1, 3, 5, 16, 18, 22, 25 and 28 April 1958, but does not include any reference to a flight on 30 April 1958. The 76 Sqn RAF Operational Record Book is publicly available at the National Archives.

All Royal Navy submariners wear occupational dosimeters while serving on submarines and assessments of occupational radiation exposure are routinely carried out for all submariners employed on operational submarines. This is as required by regulation 36 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017, which are available at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/ionising/

The Government continues to recognise and be grateful to all the Servicemen who participated in the British nuclear testing programme.

Any veteran who believes they have suffered ill health due to Service is eligible to claim no-fault compensation under the War Pensions Scheme. War Pensions are payable in respect of illness or injury due to Service in Her Majesty's Armed Forces before 6 April 2005, with the benefit of reasonable doubt always given to the claimant. Decisions are medically certified and follow consideration of Service and medical evidence and carry full rights of appeal to an independent tribunal. Where the evidence supports a causal link to Service, entitlement will be given.

In response to the health concerns of some nuclear test veterans in the 1980s, the Ministry of Defence commissioned three epidemiological studies into mortality and cancer incidence among nuclear test participants. These were conducted by the independent National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), now part of Public Health England (PHE). Three analyses were carried out. The latest report published in 2003 concluded that overall levels of mortality and cancer incidence in Nuclear Test Veterans have continued to be like those in a matched Service control group and lower than in the general population. These findings form the basis of the War Pension Scheme policy on Nuclear Test Veteran claims.

Plans are now advanced for a fourth phase of the study. Should this study produce new evidence it will be carefully evaluated and appropriately reflected in War Pensions policy on claims.

The general requirement for all RAF personnel to be fit for duty is underpinned by the Service Offence of Unfitness or Misconduct through Alcohol and Drugs as set out in Section 20 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, as amended by the Armed Forces Act 2011.

RAF pilots are subject to the same drug and alcohol testing rules as all other RAF personnel with the addition of lower prescribed alcohol limits.

Fire Extinguisher testing and maintenance is not within scope of the Defence Fire and Rescue Project contract, it is already done outside of it.

As is normal practice, Service medical records are retained for nuclear test participants, but these individual military medical records are not held centrally.

Records held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment include those related to the single use film badges, which, as is normal practice, were destroyed after their measurements were recorded. In some cases measurements were not taken because the badges were lost or damaged in situ. Where measurements were found to align with background levels readings were, in some cases, not retained.

As is normal practice, Service medical records are retained for nuclear test participants, but these individual military medical records are not held centrally.

Records held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment include those related to the single use film badges, which, as is normal practice, were destroyed after their measurements were recorded. In some cases measurements were not taken because the badges were lost or damaged in situ. Where measurements were found to align with background levels readings were, in some cases, not retained.

As is normal practice, Service medical records are retained for nuclear test participants, but these individual military medical records are not held centrally.

Records held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment include those related to the single use film badges, which, as is normal practice, were destroyed after their measurements were recorded. In some cases measurements were not taken because the badges were lost or damaged in situ. Where measurements were found to align with background levels readings were, in some cases, not retained.