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War Pensions (Nuclear Test Veterans)

Volume 264: debated on Wednesday 18 October 1995

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To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefits are available to ex-service personnel accepted by the War Pensions Agency as suffering chromosome damage attributable to service. [37504]

War disablement pensions or gratuities may be awarded to ex-service personnel for any disablement which is attributable to service in the Armed Forces.The amount payable depends upon the medically assessed degree of disablement.Supplementary allowances may be payable in addition to the basic pension or gratuity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the service personnel involved in the British nuclear test programme have been found to be suffering from chromosome damage attributable to service. [37505]

A pensions appeal tribunal has found, in one particular case, a claimant to be suffering from chromosome damage attributable to service.The Secretary of State has applied for leave to appeal to the High Court on the ground that the tribunal's decision is wrong in law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many war pensions have been awarded in (a) 1980 to 1985, (b) 1986 to 1990 and (c) 1991 to 1995 to ex-service personnel as a result of injury or medical conditions attributable to participation in the British nuclear test programmes in Australia and the South Pacific. [37506]

The information in the table relates to war disablement pensions or gratuities awarded to ex-service personnel who, during their career, participated in the British nuclear weapons tests programme. These records do not specify whether the accepted injuries or other medical condition are related to service at the test sites or to some other period of service.

PeriodNumber of awards
1980 to 19851
1986 to 19904
1991 to 1995289