Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill for Brunel University’s Cytogenetic Assessment of British Nuclear Test Veterans and their Offspring and the terms of the rights of those offspring to make claims for compensation from his Department on the basis of the findings of that assessment.

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.