The full eligibility criteria for the Nuclear Test Medal are available in the attached.

There is no official definition of the term British nuclear test veteran. Existing processes, including the eligibility criteria for the Nuclear Test Medal, are considered sufficient for determining qualifying service for the relevant purpose. We have, however, taken a significant step in broadening recognition through the medal scheme by extending eligibility to all UK personnel who directly supported American atmospheric nuclear tests during the 1950s and 1960s, as well as those deployed from the UK to support the monitoring of French and Chinese atmospheric tests.

To date, nearly 6,000 veterans, or their next of kin where the veteran is deceased, have received the Nuclear Test Medal in recognition of their service. For further information on the criteria, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-test-medal-eligibility-criteria

There is no official definition of the term British nuclear test veteran. Existing processes, including the eligibility criteria for the Nuclear Test Medal, are considered sufficient for determining qualifying service for the relevant purpose. We have, however, taken a significant step in broadening recognition through the medal scheme by extending eligibility to all UK personnel who directly supported American atmospheric nuclear tests during the 1950s and 1960s, as well as those deployed from the UK to support the monitoring of French and Chinese atmospheric tests.

To date, nearly 6,000 veterans, or their next of kin where the veteran is deceased, have received the Nuclear Test Medal in recognition of their service. For further information on the criteria, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-test-medal-eligibility-criteria

The Nuclear Test Medal is awarded to recognise service connected with the United Kingdom's nuclear testing programme between 1952 and 1967 and those personnel who took part in subsequent operations to monitor atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by other nations. The criteria have been expanded to now include all UK personnel who directly supported American atmospheric nuclear tests during the 1950s and 1960s, and UK personnel who were deployed from the UK in support of monitoring of French and Chinese atmospheric tests. Nearly 6,000 veterans (or awarded posthumously to the next of kin of eligible individuals) have received their Nuclear Test Medal in recognition of their service.

To qualify, individuals must have served at designated operational locations during the relevant periods, including participation in the UK nuclear test programme, support to US atmospheric nuclear tests under Operations BAGPIPES and DOMINIC, or deployment from the UK to monitor French and Chinese atmospheric nuclear tests. Eligibility is assessed against the published criteria, which specify the qualifying operations, locations, roles and periods of service required for the award.

The Government is deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK's nuclear testing programme and recognises their service and the significant contribution they made to the nation's security.

The Ministry of Defence does not hold information on how many British military personnel who participated in the UK's nuclear weapons testing programme are currently alive. It is estimated that around 22,000 Service personnel and civilians participated in the UK's nuclear testing programme between 1952 and 1967.

There is no dedicated compensation scheme for Nuclear Test Veterans and their families. However, veterans who believe they have suffered ill health as a result of their service may apply for no-fault compensation under the War Pension Scheme, provided they served before 6 April 2005.

War Pensions may be awarded for illness or injury caused by service in the Armed Forces, with the benefit of reasonable doubt given to the claimant. Claims are assessed on the basis of available service and medical evidence, medically certified, and carry a full right of appeal to an independent tribunal.

Arrangements and support for nuclear test veterans in other countries, including the United States and France, are matters for those governments.

In the United Kingdom, veterans who believe they have suffered ill health as a result of their service may apply for no-fault compensation under the War Pension Scheme, provided they served before 6 April 2005. Claims are considered on the basis of the available service and medical evidence, with the benefit of reasonable doubt given to the claimant, and decisions carry a full right of appeal to an independent tribunal.

The Government is deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme. We owe an enduring debt of gratitude to the more than 22,000 Service personnel, scientists and civilians whose contributions helped safeguard the nation's security.

The Government has carefully considered concerns raised regarding the handling of records relating to the UK nuclear testing programme. To address long-standing questions from nuclear test veterans about blood and urine testing policies, an extensive records discovery exercise was commissioned and completed, examining tens of thousands of documents held by the Ministry of Defence.

The exercise found no evidence of intentional concealment of medical records. The findings were published along with an accompanying Written Ministerial Statement on 15 July 2026.

The Government is deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme. We owe an enduring debt of gratitude to the more than 22,000 Service personnel, scientists and civilians whose contributions helped safeguard the nation's security.

The Government has carefully considered concerns raised regarding the handling of records relating to the UK nuclear testing programme. To address long-standing questions from nuclear test veterans about blood and urine testing policies, an extensive records discovery exercise was commissioned and completed, examining tens of thousands of documents held by the Ministry of Defence.

The exercise found no evidence of intentional concealment of medical records. The findings were published along with an accompanying Written Ministerial Statement on 15 July 2026.

I absolutely recognise the hon. Gentleman’s concerns. We have a review ongoing into these issues within prisons, led by Amber Rudd, and we will continue to ensure that we have the deterrence, to stop drugs getting in, and that the right actions are taken when they do.

I previously put it to the Prisons Minister in one of these sessions that anyone who fails a drug test on arrival in an open prison like Kirkham does not belong there and should be sent back to a more secure prison. The Minister said they were concerned but could not agree to that. Has the Department had any more thoughts on at least consequences for failing a drug test on arrival at an open prison?

The information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

There is a range of test and evaluation activity planned across Project CORVUS, Project NYX, Uncrewed Ground Vehicle development activities and other Army uncrewed and autonomous capability programmes. However, costs specific to test and evaluation are not accounted for separately from wider programme and operating costs.

The information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

There is a range of Test and Evaluation activity planned across the Protector RG1 programme, the Stormshroud programme, Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and other technology development programmes. However, costs specific to Test and Evaluation are not accounted for separately from wider programme and operating costs.

The Ministry of Defence wrote to the hon. Lady in March explaining the challenges associated with locating, accessing and searching TTCP information held in a variety of archives, both electronic and paper. Since sending that letter, the department has identified and examined a number of TTCP files to determine whether they are in scope of her enquiry. A review of these documents has found no mention of data pertaining to experiments on British Servicemen. Work is ongoing to identify and review other TTCP records for anything within scope. These activities are separate from efforts which were previously the subject of a Written Ministerial Statement, titled 'Nuclear Test Veterans Report', released in July.

The information required to answer the question is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost to the Department.

The Government is committed to ensuring blood cancer patients can benefit from more personalised approaches to treatment where these are supported by the best available evidence.

The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will support this through expanding access to genomics, modernising diagnostic services, and accelerating the adoption of evidence-based innovation across the National Health Service. By 2028, genomic data will be integrated into the unified genomic record as part of the Single Patient Record, enabling clinicians to identify the most effective treatment pathway more quickly.

Decisions on the commissioning and adoption of individual tests and treatments are informed by the available clinical evidence and are the responsibility of NHS England. Decisions about an individual's treatment are made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, taking account of the patient's clinical circumstances.

Vehicle registration plate compliance checks are already included within the MOT test. Registration plates are inspected to ensure they are legible, correctly displayed and comply with legal requirements, and non-compliant plates can result in an MOT failure.

The UK Space Agency (UKSA), in 2021/22, assessed the sector’s need for a publicly funded propulsion test facility. As a result, £4 million was invested into opening the National Space Propulsion Test Facility (NSPTF) at Westcott in 2022, providing UK industry and academia with access to specialist high-altitude and vacuum-enabled propulsion testing.

NSPTF strengthens UK sovereign capability, enabling domestic engine-testing, reducing reliance on overseas infrastructure.

Nammo UK’s LEROS engine, tested at NSPTF, powering Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost mission, successfully landing on the Moon in March 2025.

UKSA also supports skills development through University of Sheffield’s Race-2-Space competition, hosted at Westcott. Race-2-Space 2026 involved 30 student teams, giving future engineers practical, hands-on propulsion testing experience.