Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Nuclear Test Medals

Monday 11 September 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government aims to deliver nuclear test medals to veterans in time for Remembrance Sunday.
  • Presentation event to award the first medals is under consideration by the Office for Veterans' Affairs.
  • Veterans reporting gaps in medical records are advised to apply for a subject access request.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Veterans
Context

The question follows up on the production of nuclear test medals for veterans.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to deliver nuclear test medals. The Minister will know that I take an interest in the veterans issue, and I declare an interest as the president of Hinckley's Royal British Legion. A constituent, Alfred Roy Davenport, served in the RAF medical team from November 1956 to November 1959, stationed on Christmas Island. He is 85 and concerned about the delay there has been in the awarding of these medals.

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The Government are doing everything possible to ensure that as many nuclear test veterans as possible receive their medals in time for Remembrance Sunday. A presentation event to award the first medals is actively being considered by the Office for Veterans' Affairs, but it is a balance between issuing the medals for Remembrance Sunday and ensuring that they are awarded in an appropriate manner to this cohort.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm all veterans will receive their awards by Remembrance Sunday

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Q2 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Veterans
Context

The question concerns the timely delivery of nuclear test medals to veterans for Remembrance Sunday.

Question

A constituent, Alfred Roy Davenport, served in the RAF medical team from November 1956 to November 1959, stationed on Christmas Island. He is 85 and concerned about the delay there has been in the awarding of these medals, so can my right hon. Friend confirm that all veterans will have these awards ready for Remembrance Sunday?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The Government are doing everything possible to ensure that as many nuclear test veterans as possible receive their medals in time for Remembrance Sunday. A presentation event to award the first medals is actively being considered by the Office for Veterans' Affairs, but it is a balance between issuing the medals for Remembrance Sunday and ensuring that they are awarded in an appropriate manner to this cohort.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm all veterans will receive their awards by Remembrance Sunday

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Q3 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Veterans
Context

The question addresses concerns about missing files in the MOD's health records for nuclear test veterans.

Question

In a written question to the Minister, I asked whether any files had been removed from the MOD's health records of nuclear test veterans. He assured me that the Department was “not aware” of any removal, but many nuclear veterans continue to report finding large gaps when requesting their medical records. Can the Minister therefore clarify, if the files have not been removed, how nuclear veterans and their families can gain full access to them?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

They will need to apply for a subject access request. I reiterate what I said in my answer to her written question: we of course do everything we can to locate records when people request them, and I assure her that we could find none on this occasion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not clarify how veterans can gain full access to their health records

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