Call for nuclear test study

6:00am Thursday 9th October 2008

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A TORY MP is stepping up pressure on the Govern- ment to ensure a study is carried out on the impact on veterans of nuclear tests carried out in the Pacific Ocean in the late 1950s.

John Baron MP for Billericay has urged Defence Minister Derek Twigg MP, not to backtrack on his promise to replicate a study carried out in New Zealand on the test veterans.

The study, which was carried out by Dr Al Rowland of Massey University, New Zealand, showed a high rate of chromosomal abnormality among New Zealand veterans of the nuclear weapons tests on Christmas Island.

Mr Baron has now written to Mr Twigg asking the Government to honour its promise to replicate the study among British veterans as soon as possible.

He said: “The New Zealand study questions the well-being of our veterans.

“The Government must therefore keep its pledge given at our meeting to replicate the study here now Dr Rowland’s work has been peer-reviewed.

“There should be no backtracking. Our nuclear test veterans have suffered long enough and we now need to know the truth.”

Eric Everard, 69, of Bromfords Drive, Wickford, spent ten months on the island in 1958 where he was adriver in the Royal Air Force.

He witnessed five tests and believes the effects of the radiation to which he was exposed were passed on to his son who died of a genetic connective tissue disease at the age of 22.

Chas Hall, 67, from Ashingdon, celebrated his 23rd birthday on Christmas Island where he was a radiooperator during the tests.

He has been campaigning for years for a public enquiry into the long-term effects on people who were exposed and potential compensation from the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Baron is also pressing ministers to look at the effect of nuclear tests on the offspring of veterans.

He said: “We could have a time-bomb of ill health and deformity yet to come, while those who have already suffered deserve to be recognised and, where appropriate, compensated.”