Nuclear test veteran accuses MoD of "delay tactics" over compensation
Apr 22 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal
A NUCLEAR test veteran last night accused the Ministry of Defence of using "delaying tactics" days before a compensation ruling.
Defence Minister Kevan Jones yesterday launched a long-overdue study on illnesses suffered by soldiers, sailors and airmen after nuclear tests in the 1950s.
The study will look at the impact on health of veterans and their offspring and comes just days before an expected ruling on whether veterans are entitled to compensation.
Last night, John Taylor, 71, from Carnegie Close in Biddick Hall, South Shields, said the new study offered a "glimmer of justice" for veterans.
But he also raised concerns over the timing of the announcement.
"We should get the results of the court case very soon and it does concern me that the Government is just playing for time. I hope this is not a token gesture – the inquiry is going to take a long time and that is putting a lot of the veterans’ lives at risk.
"We’ve waited 50 years but between now and the start of the inquiry a lot of the servicemen could die. I honestly believe it’s a delaying tactic by the Government."
Mr Taylor was only 20 when he travelled to Maralinga in Australia as an RAF leading aircraftman in 1957.
He spent six months helping to organise the Antler atom bomb tests and during that time became one of 12,000 British, Australian and US servicemen who witnessed atomic explosions in the 1950s and 1960s.
Since then experts have estimated that one in three of those who were involved in the tests have developed cancer or a range of other health problems.
