John Baron MP promised meeting with Prime Minister over Nuclear Test Veterans

MP supporting recognition campaign

John Baron MP has been assisting the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association (BNTVA) in their campaign of recognition for the veterans’ unique service in the 1950s and 1960s. Having initially approached the MoD and hitting a brick wall, John has been promised a meeting with the Prime Minister (following his PMQ on 12^th February) to discuss the campaign, which is in two parts:

• To secure official recognition of the test veterans’ service through a Parliamentary statement (either written or oral) to Parliament from the Prime Minister.
• An ex gratia payment of £25 million to a Benevolent Fund, open to veterans and their descendants, access to which would be based on need not entitlement.

John said,

“The MoD has pulled up the drawbridge, which is why the nuclear veterans and I are pleased that the Prime Minister is meeting us. Britain compares poorly as to how other countries treat their nuclear veterans, and it is striking that one in three of veterans’ descendants suffer from some form of serious illness. We look forward to a constructive discussion.”

Nige Heaps, Chairman of the BNTVA, said,

“For many years the MoD has contrived to work against the interests of our veterans and their families. It is a significant step that the Prime Minister is taking in opening the door for discussion. Winston Churchill recognised ‘the price we have to pay to sit at the top table’ – our veterans continue to pay that price and we have a genuine hope that Mr Cameron will do the decent thing by them”