The harm suffered by nuclear test veterans could result in criminal sanctions

Criminal sanctions could be imposed on those who exposed veterans to radiation during nuclear tests, Cabinet Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has suggested.

Veterans and their families are calling for a special court to investigate their claims of ill health as a result of the nuclear tests and compensate them accordingly.

Some of the plaintiffs said they suffered from cancer and blood disorders and lost children as a result of the nuclear weapons tests.

At the Labor Party conference in September, Sir Keir Starmer said that a Hillsborough law imposing a duty of openness on civil servants was also a law for “all the countless injustices inflicted on working people over the years by those who have done so.” who were actually supposed to serve.” them”.

During Cabinet Office Questions on Thursday, Labor MP Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) asked: “May I please ask (Mr Thomas-Symonds) whether the duty of openness in the Hillsborough Act applies to the 70-year nuclear test veterans scandal applies?” ?”

Mr Thomas-Symonds replied: “We intend to introduce a very broad duty of candor, a general duty of candor.” I would also like to point out that criminal sanctions will be very important to punish the most serious breaches.

“And I am pleased to confirm to the House today that the bill we will bring forward will include criminal sanctions, as the Prime Minister announced in September.”

Veterans have claimed that blood and urine samples taken during Cold War weapons tests were reclassified as “scientific data” and deposited with the Atomic Weapons Establishment – an agency of the Defense Department – meaning they were inaccessible are.

The Defense Department previously said “no information will be withheld from veterans.”

The Prime Minister confirmed the legislation would be brought before Parliament before the next anniversary of the 1989 football stadium disaster in April.