Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Nuclear Test Veterans: Recognition

Thursday 22 June 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has opened a 200,000 nuclear test veteran community fund.
  • A 250,000 oral history project has been initiated to ensure nuclear test veterans are remembered.
  • The Government aims to ensure medals are received by veterans in time for Remembrance Sunday.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
Veterans
Context

Nuclear test veterans have made significant contributions but their recognition has been delayed.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to recognise the contribution of nuclear test veterans. The Office for Veterans' Affairs has opened a £200,000 nuclear test veteran community fund and a £250,000 oral history project to ensure that the veterans are never forgotten.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

Nuclear test veterans played a valuable role in developing a nuclear deterrent that has ultimately kept Britain safe for decades. The Office for Veterans' Affairs has opened the £200,000 nuclear test veteran community fund and a £250,000 oral history project to ensure that the veterans of Britain's nuclear testing programme are never forgotten.

Answered
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Q2 David Duguid Con
Veterans
Context

Colin Moir, a British nuclear test veteran, applied for his commemorative medal but has not received it in time for Armed Forces Week.

Question

Given that Mr Moir applied for his medal at the soonest opportunity and unfortunately has not received it in time for this Armed Forces Week, what assurances can my right hon. Friend give that medals will be received in time for Remembrance Sunday?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I recognise that the medallic recognition has taken a long time to achieve. The Government, for the first time in 60 years, have delivered on that medallic recognition. I want to ensure that those medals are in the hands of veterans who deserve them. I recognise the concerns around delays. I will be extremely disappointed if medals are not on the chests of nuclear test veterans at Remembrance Day this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assurance about the timing for distribution of medals was not given with a concrete commitment or timeline.

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