Compensation call for nuclear test veterans
THE Government must consider compensation for veterans who took part in the UK’s nuclear bomb tests and their families, a minister has been told, after announcing the ex-servicemen would receive medals.
Veterans minister and Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer paid tribute to the nuclear test veterans as he shared plans to recognise those who took part in the UK’s atomic bomb test operations.
An estimated 22,000 veterans and civilians will be eligible for the Nuclear Test Medal, which has been introduced to mark the 70th anniversary of the nation’s first atomic test.
MPs welcomed the recognition from the Government, but called on ministers to provide further support to veterans.
SNP veterans spokeswoman Carol Monaghan told the Commons: “In the US, in Canada and in France, the test veterans have been compensated. So will the Ministry of Defence now consider a financial package of compensation for nuclear test veterans who have suffered poor health consequences as a result of their exposure to ionising radiation?
“Will the MoD also consider compensation for families who have suffered health complications as a result of their parents’ exposure?”
Mr Mercer replied: “When it comes to compensation, look, there are war pensions available and indeed nuclear test veterans do claim war pensions from the Ministry of Defence at the moment.
“We are always open as the science becomes clearer, we are always open to making sure we look after these people. This Prime Minster is absolutely clear that we will stand by our commitments and fulfil our manifesto commitments to our veterans.”
Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, who has campaigned for the nuclear veterans to be recognised, asked: “Will he undertake to ensure that the Prime Minister meets with me, my constituent and other nuclear testing veterans to discuss war pension reform, financial support, the release of blood and urine records, and research and an inquiry into all that happened to these men and their families?”
Responding to the Salford and Eccles MP, Mr Mercer said the Prime Minister was “very much moved” after meeting with veterans. He added: “I have seen the stories around medical records and so on being destroyed. I don’t recognise that, and I have looked into it, but I am always open to evidence that she or others may have and I am determined that we will get this right.
“The medal is one part of it, but that is not everything for everybody.”
Rachel Hopkins, shadow minister for veterans, said: “To ensure this never happens again, we are committed to a complete review of the system for awarding medals to serving personnel and veterans.”
She added: “Will the minister support Labour’s proposal for a rootand-branch review of the whole medals process?”
Mr Mercer replied: “I think that the Defence Secretary has made his position clear on a number of occasions about this particular issue, in fact that work has started. We saw Operation Pitting during the summer, where medals were awarded outside of the usual parameters, so I think that’s an ongoing discussion we can certainly have.” He had earlier paid tribute to their “relentlessness” in campaigning, adding they had “made a unique and unprecedented contribution to our national security”.