Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 3 April (HL3500), whether they hold (1) paper, and (2) digitised, copies of the declassified documents concerning nuclear test veterans.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The documents are held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment digitally and in hard copy. The Minister for Defence People and Families will update the House on plans for their release in due course.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), to what extent they take into account (1) the age of nuclear test veterans, and (2) the public interest, when prioritising ministerial diary engagements.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are grateful to all Service personnel who participated in the British nuclear testing programme and contributed to keeping our nation secure. Ministerial diaries are prioritised across a broad range of issues in accordance with departmental need and parliamentary engagements.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), when the 150 documents related to the nuclear test veterans were declassified; and who authorised their declassification.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families personally examined all 150 records at the Atomic Weapons Establishment on 18 March 2024 and will update the House on plans for their release in due course. The documents consist of around 4,000 pages and were declassified following a review by officials at AWE and the Ministry of Defence which was completed in March this year.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), whether they will place a copy of the declassified documents concerning the nuclear test veterans in the Library of the House.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families personally examined all 150 records at the Atomic Weapons Establishment on 18 March 2024 and will update the House on plans for their release in due course. The documents consist of around 4,000 pages and were declassified following a review by officials at AWE and the Ministry of Defence which was completed in March this year.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), how many total pages are contained within the 150 declassified documents related to the nuclear test veterans.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families personally examined all 150 records at the Atomic Weapons Establishment on 18 March 2024 and will update the House on plans for their release in due course. The documents consist of around 4,000 pages and were declassified following a review by officials at AWE and the Ministry of Defence which was completed in March this year.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 4 March (HL2591), on what date the Minister for Defence People and Families intends to visit the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston for the personal assessment of the 150 documents held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment concerning blood tests taken from British troops during radiation experiments.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr Andrew Murrison) will visit the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) shortly to personally review the information and consider its release into the public domain. Given the volume of documents to be reviewed it was considered more practical for the Minister to visit AWE.
There are no restrictions on Ministers accessing these records with the Minister for Defence People and Families the most appropriate given his responsibility for veteran’s affairs. The documents had a variety of security classifications and are now declassified.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 4 March (HL2591), why it is not possible for the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston to facilitate the delivery of the 150 nuclear test veteran documents to a secure ministerial office within the Ministry of Defence for review by the Minister for Defence People and Families.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr Andrew Murrison) will visit the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) shortly to personally review the information and consider its release into the public domain. Given the volume of documents to be reviewed it was considered more practical for the Minister to visit AWE.
There are no restrictions on Ministers accessing these records with the Minister for Defence People and Families the most appropriate given his responsibility for veteran’s affairs. The documents had a variety of security classifications and are now declassified.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by The Earl of Minto on 4 March (HL2591, HL2592), whether they will list the defence Ministers restricted from accessing the 150 relevant documents held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr Andrew Murrison) will visit the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) shortly to personally review the information and consider its release into the public domain. Given the volume of documents to be reviewed it was considered more practical for the Minister to visit AWE.
There are no restrictions on Ministers accessing these records with the Minister for Defence People and Families the most appropriate given his responsibility for veteran’s affairs. The documents had a variety of security classifications and are now declassified.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by The Earl of Minto on 4 March (HL2591, HL2592), whether they will list the security classification of the 150 documents.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr Andrew Murrison) will visit the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) shortly to personally review the information and consider its release into the public domain. Given the volume of documents to be reviewed it was considered more practical for the Minister to visit AWE.
There are no restrictions on Ministers accessing these records with the Minister for Defence People and Families the most appropriate given his responsibility for veteran’s affairs. The documents had a variety of security classifications and are now declassified.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many visas have been issued to members of the Afghan Special Police Commando Force under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the noble Lord to the answers given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey), to Questions 11984 and 14769 tabled in the House of Commons by the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne and the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome.