8 October 2008
John Baron MP has written to the Defence Minister Derek Twigg MP calling on him not to backtrack on a pledge given at a meeting in March to replicate a New Zealand study on Nuclear Test Veterans in this country subject to the original report being peer-reviewed in a scientific journal. The study, carried out by Dr Al Rowland of Massey University, NZ, showed a high rate of chromosomal abnormality among New Zealand veterans of the Nuclear Weapons tests at Christmas Island in the late 1950’s, possibly caused by exposure to radiation during the tests. The study has now been peer-reviewed. John Baron has therefore now asked the Government to honour its promise and replicate the study among British veterans as soon as possible.
John said:
“The New Zealand study questions the well-being of our veterans. The Government must therefore keep its pledge given at our meeting to replicate the study here now Dr Rowland’s work has been peer-reviewed. There should be no backtracking. Our nuclear test veterans have suffered long enough and we now need to know the truth.”
“Meanwhile, I am also pressing Ministers to look at the effect of nuclear tests on the offspring of veterans. We could have a time-bomb of ill health and deformity yet to come, whilst those who have already suffered deserve to be recognised and, where appropriate, compensated.”
