Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have an official definition of the term "British nuclear test veteran"; if so, whether that definition includes British service personnel who were officially deployed to monitor foreign atmospheric nuclear tests after 1966, including personnel of RAF 543 Squadron and RAF 27 Squadron; and if not, whether they plan to establish and publish such a definition before determining the scope or membership of any future inquiry or tribunal concerning nuclear test veterans.

There is no official definition of the term British nuclear test veteran. Existing processes, including the eligibility criteria for the Nuclear Test Medal, are considered sufficient for determining qualifying service for the relevant purpose. We have, however, taken a significant step in broadening recognition through the medal scheme by extending eligibility to all UK personnel who directly supported American atmospheric nuclear tests during the 1950s and 1960s, as well as those deployed from the UK to support the monitoring of French and Chinese atmospheric tests.

To date, nearly 6,000 veterans, or their next of kin where the veteran is deceased, have received the Nuclear Test Medal in recognition of their service. For further information on the criteria, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-test-medal-eligibility-criteria