Liz Saville Roberts MP (Plaid Cymru – Dwyfor Meirionnydd) recently questioned the Ministry of Defence (MoD) about the possibility of establishing a dedicated financial compensation scheme for nuclear test veterans and their families.
These veterans were involved in the UK’s nuclear testing programme from 1952 to 1967.
Responding to the inquiry, Luke Pollard, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, confirmed that “The Ministry of Defence has no current plans to develop a specific compensation scheme for either Nuclear Test Veterans or their families.”
However, Pollard highlighted that veterans who believe they have been adversely affected by their service can apply to the War Pensions Scheme. This “no-fault scheme provides compensation for Service personnel who are disabled or die due to injury caused or made worse by service in the UK Armed Forces before 6 April 2005.”
He also noted the availability of supplementary pensions and allowances for dependants through the same programme.
Acknowledging the broader concerns of the nuclear test veteran community, Pollard added that the Government is “fully committed to engaging with Nuclear Test Veterans and their families to discuss their concerns.”
He further mentioned that the Minister for Veterans and People has commissioned internal reviews to address issues raised, including matters related to medical records.
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