BNTVA and John Baron MP meet No 10 and MoD officials

Nuclear Test Veteran campaign seeks to uphold ‘No 10 Agreement’

Last week, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association (BNTVA), as well as the group’s Patron, John Baron MP, held a constructive meeting at the MoD with officials from No 10 and the MoD. The meeting was to clarify the ‘terms of reference’ and operation of the Aged Veterans’ Fund. This was announced by the Chancellor in the Budget, and will provide support to nuclear test veterans, and their descendants, in need.

In particular, the BNTVA sought to ensure the ‘No 10 Agreement’, agreed at a meeting with No 10 officials shortly after the March Budget, is adhered to – a meeting which Rt Hon John Hayes MP, a long-term supporter of the campaign, also attended. The main points of the agreement are:

1. The BNTVA will be involved in drawing up the Aged Veterans’ Fund’s ‘Terms of Reference’.
2. The BNTVA will be represented on the Aged Veterans’ Fund’s Advisory Panel.
3. The BNTVA will act as the conduit for developing and managing block applications on behalf of its beneficiaries.

John said,

“The BNTVA and I had a useful meeting with Government officials at the MoD, which followed on from the ‘No 10 Agreement’. We look forward to ensuring nuclear veterans and their descendants obtain help from the Fund.”

Nige Heaps, BNTVA Chairman, said,

“We are working with No10 to ensure the agreed principles are reflected in the ‘Terms of Reference’. There is still a long way to go but we hope that by the end of this year we will see some projects in place that will benefit the veterans of British Nuclear Testing and their offspring.”

Rt Hon John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Security, said,

“It’s vital that we do right by our Nuclear Test Veterans and this Government is on their side. I kept my promise to them and will continue to do all I can for their cause.”