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Visit to the Office of Veterans' Affairs
Jessie Owen, Cabinet Office Director for the Office of Veterans' Affairs, invited Ceri to a meeting with herself, Policy and Research Advisors at the Treasury the day before the Prime Minister met with our BNTVA patron, Sir John Hayes, and nuclear test representatives at Parliament.
Due to technical issues on both sides, this was rearranged. Subsequently, with short notice,
Dr Chris Hill from the University of South Wales and Ceri visited the Treasury on the morning of the 20 June for the meeting concerning ways in which the government could recognise Britain's nuclear test veterans and their families, at the request of the Prime Minister.
Our hour-long discussion turned into almost two hours, with a room change halfway through. Chris and Ceri were delighted that the OVA were keen to take forward our proposals for working together,
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particularly around the topic of moral injury.
discussions about our specific suggestions and will let our members know the outcome when we know.
We also mentioned that Leo Docherty MP had spoken of moral injury in the context of Britain's nuclear test veterans at the end of the War Pensions' Defence Select
The OVA requested the current BNTVA medal application, which we previously submitted in 2021, and then re-submitted to the Advisory Military Sub-Committee in March 2022, based on the Fourth Analysis results of the MOD's study into mortality data and cancer incidence of participants of the British and American atmospheric testing programmes and clean ups.
Committee on the previous Friday. This was not in his remit, but we have informed him of moral injury within correspondence this year.
We are currently refining research and recognition proposals to deliver to the OVA after the meeting for the good of the British nuclear community. We are continuing