John Baron MP speaks at nuclear test veterans’ lobby of Parliament

MP and BNTVA also hand in petition to No 10

Today John Baron MP (as Patron of the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association – BNTVA) and other Parliamentary colleagues joined nuclear test veterans, their families and descendents in their march on Parliament. The march, organised by the BNTVA, was in support of the test veterans’ campaign for official recognition of their unique service in the 1950s and 1960s. At the rally afterwards, John spoke about the Parliamentary campaign. Nige Heaps (Chairman of the BNTVA) also addressed the rally. John and the BNTVA then delivered a 5,000-signature petition to No 10 urging the Prime Minister to support the campaign.

John said,

“The UK stands near the bottom of the ‘international table of decency’ when comparing how other nuclear countries treat their veterans and descendants. The time has come to put this right, to recognise our veterans’ unique service to this country, and to establish a Benevolent Fund for both veterans and descendents in need.”

Nige Heaps, son of a test veterans and Chairman of the BNTVA, said,

“We will continue our fight for recognition until the Prime Minister stands up and acknowledges the unique service our nuclear veterans made to the country. I was moved by the number of veterans and their family members who came along today and it makes it so much more important that we get the resolution to the campaign.”

Ends

Word Count: 243

Date: 27^th November 2013

Notes to Editors:

• This campaign is the second phase of the BNTVA’s campaigning. Due to the age of the veterans, the first phase was to secure a Health Needs Analysis from the MoD. This was completed in 2011, and has led to a smoother ‘veterans’ pathway’ through the NHS.
• The second phase has two goals:
  • Official recognition from the Prime Minister, either orally or in writing, of the test veterans’ service.
  • The establishment of a £25 million Benevolent Fund, supporting veterans and their families based on need not entitlement. The money would come from Government in the form of an ex gratia payment, which would not admit any liability on the Government’s behalf.