Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has taken steps to ensure that medical advisors at Veterans UK are trained to (a) monitor and (b) record cancer incidences among veterans who have worked in close proximity to radio frequency radiation emitters.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The role of Medical Advisers is to provide medical advice regarding the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and to certify medical decisions in the War Pensions Scheme (WPS).
Their role does not encompass the monitoring of, or recording of cancer incidence of veterans who have worked in close proximity to radio frequency radio emitters. Owing to their role and the information available to them, there would be no circumstances under which it would be possible for them to do so.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of working in close proximity to (a) radar systems and (b) other radio frequency radiation emitters on incidences of cancer.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Joint Service Publication (JSP) 392, Management of radiation protection in defence, provides defence staff with guidance on radiological protection of personnel within establishments and units to prevent harm. This includes applying safety standards which set the limits for exposure, and ensuring defence personnel are aware and equipped to manage working with these hazards.
In conjunction with JSP 392, JSP 375, Management of health and safety in Defence, mandates that all military activities must be risk assessed to identify and manage potential risks, including working in close proximity to radio frequency emitters. The accountable person, who may be a commander or manager, is responsible for identifying risks and providing mitigations to prevent harm.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential level of risk posed by working in close proximity to radio frequency emitters.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Joint Service Publication (JSP) 392, Management of radiation protection in defence, provides defence staff with guidance on radiological protection of personnel within establishments and units to prevent harm. This includes applying safety standards which set the limits for exposure, and ensuring defence personnel are aware and equipped to manage working with these hazards.
In conjunction with JSP 392, JSP 375, Management of health and safety in Defence, mandates that all military activities must be risk assessed to identify and manage potential risks, including working in close proximity to radio frequency emitters. The accountable person, who may be a commander or manager, is responsible for identifying risks and providing mitigations to prevent harm.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to honour veterans affected by nuclear tests in Britain.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
The Government continues to be grateful to veterans who participated in the Nuclear Test Programme. The recent review by the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee into the case for medallic recognition concluded it did not meet the level of risk and rigour generally required for the award of a campaign medal. This in no way diminishes the contribution of veterans.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason veterans whose spouse qualifies for a war pension are not automatically eligible for an Elizabeth cross medal.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
The Government continues to recognise and be grateful to all Service personnel who participated in the British nuclear testing programme, including Mr Eric Denson. They contributed to keeping our nation secure during the Cold War and since, ensuring that the United Kingdom was equipped with an appropriate nuclear capability.
On 16 March 2021, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) advised Mr Denson’s widow of the outcome of her application for the Elizabeth Cross in respect of her late husband.
The delay in providing this response was due to the impact of COVID-19 on the working arrangements of Departmental officials, and, in particular, the ability to access Mr Denson’s Service records from almost fifty years ago, which exist in hard copy only. Mr Denson’s widow was advised that there would be a delay in considering her application.
There is no correlation between being awarded a pension under the War Pension Scheme and the criteria for the Elizabeth Cross. The Elizabeth Cross is granted to the next of kin of Service personnel who have died since 1 January 1948 on medal earning operations, as a result of an act of terrorism or on a non-medal earning operational task where death has been caused by the inherent high risk of the task. A claim considered before 6 April 2005 under the War Pensions Scheme required the award of a pension to be made unless it could be shown beyond reasonable doubt that Service had played no part in an illness or death.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made in awarding Eric Denson, a British veteran affected by nuclear testing, the Elizabeth Cross.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
The Government continues to recognise and be grateful to all Service personnel who participated in the British nuclear testing programme, including Mr Eric Denson. They contributed to keeping our nation secure during the Cold War and since, ensuring that the United Kingdom was equipped with an appropriate nuclear capability.
On 16 March 2021, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) advised Mr Denson’s widow of the outcome of her application for the Elizabeth Cross in respect of her late husband.
The delay in providing this response was due to the impact of COVID-19 on the working arrangements of Departmental officials, and, in particular, the ability to access Mr Denson’s Service records from almost fifty years ago, which exist in hard copy only. Mr Denson’s widow was advised that there would be a delay in considering her application.
There is no correlation between being awarded a pension under the War Pension Scheme and the criteria for the Elizabeth Cross. The Elizabeth Cross is granted to the next of kin of Service personnel who have died since 1 January 1948 on medal earning operations, as a result of an act of terrorism or on a non-medal earning operational task where death has been caused by the inherent high risk of the task. A claim considered before 6 April 2005 under the War Pensions Scheme required the award of a pension to be made unless it could be shown beyond reasonable doubt that Service had played no part in an illness or death.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the titles of the reviews that his Department is undertaking.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Ministry of Defence constantly reviews its processes and structures to ensure effective operation across the organisation. Our cross-Government Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy Review has already been announced by the Prime Minister. In addition to this, "Reserve Forces 2030: A Review of the Reserve Service" is also underway and is examining how Reserves can best contribute to Defence and wider HMG objectives by 2030.