MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Nuclear Test Veterans’ Health Research

The Minister for Veterans and Under Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Kevan Jones): The Government has been actively engaging with the concerns expressed by our nuclear test veterans that they and their offspring have been adversely affected by their participation in the British nuclear tests of the 1950s and 1960s.

The wider published peer-reviewed epidemiological evidence to date has not demonstrated a general link between veterans’ ill-health and participation in the tests. Similarly there is no peer-reviewed evidence suggesting that their children and grandchildren are at increased risk of genetic abnormalities.

The Government is, however, determined to address the ongoing concerns of nuclear test veterans. I had a constructive meeting with the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association (BNTVA) and interested MPs on Monday 20 April. I am pleased to report that the BNTVA have agreed to help identify a representative sample of veterans and their descendants with a view to conducting an assessment of their health needs. I therefore announce today an intention that the Min istry of Defence will work with veterans and experts to finalise the details of research to investigate the particular health needs of nuclear test veterans and their offspring with a view to identifying priorities and taking action to improve health. I also intend some follow–up to last year’s New Zealand chromosome study. The aim will be for projects to be of practical relevance to veterans with results delivered to a reasonable time scale. The work will be tendered in the normal manner and should be underway before the end of this year. A working group including representatives from the BNTVA will be established to take these projects forward.

Tuesday 21 April 2009

SUMMARY OF JUDGMENT OF QUEEN’S BENCH DIVISION

Atomic Veterans Litigation judgement summary

Recently I have become more and more frustrated with Government Intransigence on many issues affecting our troops, and I can see their morale being eroded.

To this end I have started a petition on the Downing Street Website thanking our troops for the risks they take on our behalf.

I want to catapult this petition to the top of the list with the most signatures, but I’m obviously limited on the resources I have available to me. This is were I’m hoping you can help. You may think me rather cheeky to ask, but I am an optimist and hope that either through your website or mailing list (or both) you could let the public know that this petition exists and it is a very worthy message.

I’m sure you’ll give this very serious consideration as I think it is incredibly important that everybody shows support in whatever way they can. Hitting the numbers on the petition will force the Ministers to take note that the Great British Public is watching. A recent BBC survey revealed 91% of respondents felt serving in the British Armed forces is a job to be proud of. If that is correct let the population demonstrate it and say THANKS. I also believe veterans should be thanked and properly honoured which includes your members (more about that on www.nationaldefencemedal.webs.com ).

The petition address is: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/HMFORCESTHANKS/

There is more detail on the actual petition. I hope this meets with your approval and you will help.

Many thanks,
Tony Morland
17 Whitbred Road, Salisbury , SP2 9PE
01256732320
07767365446

Adrian Cooper always wanted to go into film or television production. Soon after completing a course in cinematography at the  Polytechnic in London, an old friend Edward Scott, recommended him as his replacement as a cameraman at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment; Adrian jumped at the chance. One of his first assignments was to film the second British Atomic  bomb test, code named Totem 1. This took place on 15th October 1953 at Emu Field, Great Victoria Desert, Woomera, Australia. Adrian used to say in later years that the heat from the explosion at the back of his head was absolutely excruciating.  The story of the first test was made into a film by Adrian using footage shot by  Edward Scott and adding his own linking shots from the second test. The film was called “This Little Ship” and showed how HMS Plym was used to carry the bomb which was exploded inside her. A copy of the film still exists in the archive of the British Film Institute.
Adrian Cooper went on to have a very successful career as a cameraman and later as a director working for Associated Rediffusion and Thames TV who provided programmes for the London area. He worked on childrens TV including a ground breaking series “Do Not Adjust Your Set” and also a long running drama series “No Hiding Place”. Sir David Jason, Sir Ben Kingsley, Michael Palin, Eric Idle and Terry Jones were among many well-known actors who took part in these programmes. In 1972, Adrian left London for Plymouth where he directed “News Night” for Westward Television. He eventually gave up working full time for TV and joined his second wife June who was running a successful Drama School in Guidford and Adrian developed extensive training for Television  there.
They retired in 1995 to live happily in France until in 2005 Adrian was diagnosed as having contracted MSA - Multiple Systems Atrophy. This little known disease affects the Cerebellum and the sufferer progressively cannot walk,talk or use limbs at all, but the central brain remains completely unimpaired. The French consultants were however very puzzled by what they saw on the brain scan. There were three horizontal lines showing on the back of the cerebellum. They had no idea what they were or what could have caused them. Sadly, the MSA led to Adrian’s death in January 2008. The question is whether there is any link between his filming in Australia and his subsequent suffering and death from MSASadly, it led to Adrian’s death in January 2008.
The question is whether there is any link between his filming in Australia and his subsequent suffering and death from MSA.

18^th March 2008

Mr Derek Twigg MP,

Parliamentary Under–Secretary of State for Defence

and Minister for Veterans,

Ministry of Defence,

Floor 5, Zone B, Main Building,

Whitehall, London,

SW1A 2HB.

 NRPB Reports 

Dear Mr Twigg,

In a number of recent letters you have made reference to “other international experts (who) have gone on record as being happy with the approach taken by the NRPB and the results obtained”.

We would be obliged for the names of these experts, together with the names of the science journals in which their peer-review’s were published.

Many thanks

John G. Lowe

27^th May 2008

Mr David Cameron MP,

House of Commons,

London,

SW1A 0AA

Dear Mr Cameron,

It is most disappointing to note that you have not had the courtesy to reply to my letter of the 25^th March 2008.

It would appear that you have joined the camp of the present Prime Minister, who is also disinclined to reply to letters. A copy of my original letter is attached for your easy reference. 

Yours Sincerely

                     25^th March 2008

Mr David Cameron MP,

House of Commons,

London,

SW1A 0AA

Dear Mr Cameron,

You will be aware of the recommendations made following the cross party enquiry into the after effects of Operation Grapple, co- chaired by John Baron MP and Dr Ian Gibson MP.

We are seeking cross party support for the acceptance of the recommendations of the inquiry, but in particular those of your party.

To enable us to brief you and your senior colleagues, we ask for a meeting to fit in with your busy schedule.

Enclosed are copies of recent correspondence. It appears that Mr Derek Twigg, the Minister for Veterans, has assumed the same entrenched position taken by the MoD for a long time.

The BNTVA are eager to see the discussion go forward and it is for this reason that we are appealing to all MPs to support the cause of the Nuclear Veterans and their offspring.

Yours faithfully

John G. Lowe

26^th May 2008

The Prime Minister Of The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland,

The Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP,

10 Downing Street,

London

SW1A 2AA.

Dear Prime Minister,

On the 5^th March 2008, over two months ago, I wrote to you in respect of the setting up of an enquiry into the health of the children of the countries nuclear test veterans.

Although I will admit to having received an acknowledgement of the letter, it is most disappointing that you have not had the courtesy to reply, thus showing a complete lack of respect to a group of veteran servicemen who served their countries need under extremely difficult conditions.

I must admit my disappointment.

Yours sincerely

John G. Lowe

cc. Alan Campbell MP - Tynemouth

   British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association

                                                                                                                                   5^th March 2008

The Prime Minister Of The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland,

The Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP,

10 Downing Street,

London

SW1A 2AA.

Dear Prime Minister,

Early in December last year, you met with John Baron MP & Ian Gibson MP in order to discuss the recommendations made following the Parliamentary Inquiry held on the 15^th & 16^th October 2007. At this meeting you recommended that they have a meeting with Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence, in order to push their proposals through.

Unfortunately, Des Browne refused to meet with the two MPs and passed the responsibility to Derek Twigg, Undersecretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans.

A meeting took place with Mr Twig on the 4^th March after which the MPs issued a press release in which they advised that they considered the meeting to have been useful in that the Minister addressed a number of the MPs points.

However it appears that Mr Twigg is not prepared to discuss the setting up of an enquiry into the Health and Genetic damage caused to the Children, Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren of the countries Nuclear Tests Veterans, preferring to rely on studies mainly based on the bombs dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

There can be no comparison between the bombs dropped on Japan in 1945 and the bombs tested during the British Nuclear Weapons Program. In the past, this Association has commissioned three studies into the health of our children and each has produced similar results.

     1992         A Very Clean Bomb?         A study by Danuta O’Neill SRN SCM.

This in turn led to the Tyne Tees Television award winning film “Children of the Bomb”

1999Research conducted at Dundee University Medical School under the auspices of Sue Rabbitt Roff, funded by Dame Catherine Cookson.

2007                                Research conducted by Dr Chris Busby, fellow of Liverpool University.

All these studies demonstrate that genetic damage suffered by the Nuclear Tests Veterans has been passed on down the generations.

 It is not acceptable for Mr Twigg to take no action on the grounds that Dr Busby’s study has not been peer reviewed. The Dundee Study was peer reviewed and Dr Busby’s study simply confirms the results.

 Why did the government not take action in 1999?

Mr Brown, you must act now and instruct that an independent body be commissioned to asses the Genetic Effects on future generations of exposure to Nuclear Radiation.

You owe it to the country as a whole and to future generations yet unborn.

DO NOT FAIL THEM!

John G. Lowe

Chairman