Nuclear test veteran’s FOI ban an ‘absolute outrage’

ROW: MSP supports Kirkcaldy man’s right to ask questions of Ministry of Defence

An MSP has said it is an “absolute outrage” that a Fife nuclear test veteran has been banned from making any further Freedom of Information (FOI) requests by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Hamilton member Christina McKelvie, convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee, is writing to the UK Information Commissioner to determine whether the MoD has “overstepped the mark” by blocking further requests by Kirkcaldy pensioner Dave Whyte.

As reported by The Courier a fortnight ago, 80-year-old Mr Whyte – who claimed he suffered sterility and genetic damage through radiation exposure during the British hydrogen and atomic bomb tests at Christmas Island in 1958 – has made at least 150 Freedom of Information requests since 2008.

His questions have included queries about the number of instruments, and their purpose, held in the bunker at ground zero for the detonation of both Pennant and Burgee atomic bombs he attended, why he had a lymph node removed from his body in the immediate aftermath and what were the results.

Mr Whyte – who says he was not supplied with any protective clothing or a respirator for tasks he carried out just two and a half hours after each detonation – has repeatedly accused the MoD of lying when it said it does not have the information.

But in response to his latest FOI request – which sought details about his role collecting radioactive debris scattered around ground zero – the MoD has taken a firm stand by accusing him of running a “relatively trivial, increasingly personalised” campaign, having “unreasonable persistence”, being “obsessive”, “aggressive”, and of displaying “paranoia” in his “vexatious” and duplicated requests.

It said the “greatest harassment” to staff was the sheer volume of repeat requests, which created a “significant resource burden” with a “vastly disproportionate percentage of requests handled by finite staff resources”.

Ms McKelvie, who hosted a nuclear test veterans members’ debate in 2011, said: “It’s an absolute outrage that the Mo D is trying to palm off nuclear veterans who have a legitimate and deeply personal interest in getting answers.

“We’re talking about individuals with heartbreaking and life-changing stories – men who have suffered infertility, skin cancers and other conditions through exposure to radiation in the course of doing their job and serving their country.

“While the MoD tries to obfuscate and dodge the questions, it is simply not acceptable for them to impose an outright ban on people using legitimate freedom of information requests to get the answers they need to make their case.”

The MoD has said it is unable to discuss individual cases but says it recognises the “debt of gratitude” owed to servicemen and women who took part in the nuclear tests while helping to keep Britain secure at a difficult time in terms of nuclear technology.

Christina McKelvie is backing Mr Whyte.