Page 9 - BNVTA News November 2020

about her concerns with the Bill. COBSEO shared the concerns of the BNTVA, and stated that the Royal British Legion were present at theParliamentary Committee raising points at the time of the Second Reading; this was a nail-biting time for the BNTVA.
Ceri passed Mr Mercer’s letter to Susie, who brought it to the attention of Conservative backbenchers planning to derail the Bill, the Shadow Armed Forces Minister, Stephen Morgan MP, and the Shadow Defence Committee. Concerning Mr Mercer, Mr Morgan stated,
“This is no way to treat our veterans and not worthy of the office of Minister he currently occupies. Either he has misled the BNTVA, or he doesn’t even understand his own Bill.”
Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis, Conservative MP for New Forest East, asked whether British servicemen involved in the UK’s nuclear tests would be affected by the change in the Law. An MOD spokesman responded,
“Nuclear test veterans who believe they have suffered ill health due to their service have the right to reply for no fault compensation under the War Pensions scheme. Their ability to bring a civil claim is unaffected.. because the testing programme does not fall within the definition of an overseas operation as set out in the legislation.”
(Source: www.mirror.co.uk/uk-news/ nuclear-heroes-can-sue-mod-22891601).
This clarification is significantly positive news for the BNTVA, all British nuclear test veterans and the wider nuclear community.
The BNTVA would like to thank all those who have contributed towards this change, and we await further scientific research into the effects of ionizing radiation to unfold regarding our cause.
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CAMPAIGN AUTUMN 2020
JOHNNY MERCER MP
PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE AND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PEOPLE AND VETERANS
4.4.2.16
16 October 2020
Dear Ceri,
Thank you for your email of the 24 September 2020, in which you raised a concern that the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA) has in relation to Part 2 of the Overseas Operations Bill.
I am happy to reassure you that the 6-year limitation periods in Part 2 of the Bill apply only to tort claims (for personal injury and death) and claims under the Human Rights Act, in relation to overseas military operations, which are brought after the provisions come into force. These provisions will therefore have no impact on the ability of British nuclear test veterans to claim war pensions, which may be claimed for any disablement at any time after service termination.
Ceri McDade
Trustee & Chair BNTVA
The Charity for Nuclear Veterans
By email: Chairman@bntva.com
Yours sincerely,
JOHNNY MERCER MP
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
FLOOR 5, ZONE B, MAIN BUILDING WHITEHALL LONDON SW1A 2HB
Telephone 020 7218 9000 (Switchboard)