Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the families of service personnel who have died from conditions related to radiation exposure will have the right, under the terms of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, to claim compensation, in the event that documents revealing the exposure of those personnel to radiation during the course of their service emerge more than six years after their death.

Nuclear Test Veterans who believe they have suffered ill health due to their service have the right to apply for no-fault compensation under the War Pensions Scheme.

The limitation longstops in Part 2 of the Overseas Operations Bill will apply only to tort claims for personal injury and death, and claims under the Human Rights Act, in relation to overseas operations, which are brought after the provisions come into force. The six-year limitation longstops will therefore have no impact on claims under the War Pensions scheme, which includes disablement and death benefits.