MOD HAS DUTY TO COMPENSATE NUCLEAR TEST VETERANS
January 21, 2009 2:48 PM
Commenting on today's opening of a High Court bid for compensation by veterans of British nuclear tests, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:
"The Government has a moral duty to compensate those servicemen who, when many of them were no more than teenagers, put their health at tremendous risk for the sake of the nation's security."
"It is disgraceful that the MoD is hiding behind a technicality. Virtually every other country, from China to France, has compensated their test veterans."
"It beggars belief that the Government has already spent £1m of taxpayers money trying to keep this case out of the courts."
"This is a stain on Britain's international reputation and yet more callous treatment of veterans who deserve better."
Further Information
The amount of spending by the Government on fighting legal claims was revealed in answer to a Parliamentary question:
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department to date of legal advice relating to claims made by nuclear test veterans claiming compensation from the Government; and how much is expected to be spent in the next 12 weeks. [222524]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Legal costs to the Department relating to compensation claims brought by nuclear test veterans up to 24 July 2008 amount to £968,050.00. The estimated subsequent costs are £543,300.00.
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