MoD withheld information about nuclear test veterans' records, ex-minister claims
Summary
A former UK veterans minister, Tobias Ellwood, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) purposely hid medical information about veterans involved in Cold War nuclear tests. Veterans want their medical records released because they believe exposure to nuclear tests caused serious health problems.Key Facts
- Tobias Ellwood served as a UK junior defence minister from 2017 to 2019.
- Ellwood claimed the MoD deliberately withheld medical records of nuclear test veterans.
- Around 25,000 UK military personnel, scientists, and civilians took part in nuclear tests from 1952 to 1967.
- Veterans report health issues like cancers, heart disease, stillbirths, and birth defects tied to nuclear exposure.
- The MoD said it conducted a large review of records and released five reports on the topic.
- The MoD cited secret Cold War policies and poor record-keeping as reasons for incomplete information.
- Ellwood said ministers were told to claim they had no helpful evidence, possibly to delay claims until veterans died.
- The MoD thanked veterans for their service and said it regularly communicated with veterans and community groups while publishing findings.
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