BNTVA and John Baron MP meet No 10 officials regarding the Budget provisions

Campaign team welcomed by Prime Minister

Following a long campaign for a £25m Charitable Fund for our nuclear test veterans and their descendants, the Chancellor announced in his Budget speech last week a provision for our eldest veterans. Test veterans would also be eligible to benefit from this sum. Last night, the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association (BNTVA) and John were welcomed by the Prime Minister to No 10. The campaign team then held a meeting with officials at No 10 to flesh out the details of how the fund would work.

John Baron MP and Nigel Heaps, Chairman of the BNTVA, said:

“We reiterate our thanks to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor for having done more than any other Government in recognising our nuclear test veterans, including the Prime Minister’s words in the House of Commons last year, despite the MoD’s resistance.”

“Our concern that nuclear veterans would be marginalised in the provision were a key focus of discussion. We have been assured of BNTVA involvement in both developing the provision’s ‘Terms of Reference’ and representation on the advisory panel. The BNTVA will also be the conduit for developing and managing block applications of behalf of its beneficiaries.”

“This was a positive meeting in achieving an undertaking that No10 will work closely with us to satisfy the reasonable needs of our veterans and the 40% of their descendants suffering congenital deformities or serious medical conditions.”