Former veterans minister Tobias Ellwood has accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of deliberately withholding information regarding the medical records of Cold War nuclear test veterans. Ellwood stated that information previously provided to Parliament about the UK's nuclear program, based on MoD briefings, was "a complete lie."
Veterans have been advocating for the release of their medical histories, asserting that blood and urine test results could substantiate claims that radiation exposure has led to health issues. These veterans, who participated in the nuclear testing program between 1952 and 1967 at sites in Australia and the Pacific, report suffering from various cancers, leukemia, heart disease, stillbirths, and generational birth defects due to their exposure.
Ellwood, who served as a junior defence minister from June 2017 to July 2019, suggested that ministers have been intentionally misled with briefings that denied evidence to support veterans' claims, potentially as a tactic to delay until the veterans pass away. He believes the ministry "deliberately withheld" details about the testing program, describing the situation as "murky" and "shady."
In response to these concerns, the MoD announced in 2024 a comprehensive review of its holdings related to the issue, subsequently releasing five reports. The ministry cited factors such as the lack of a centralized record-keeping system and the high levels of secrecy during the Cold War as contributing to challenges in addressing the veterans' questions. An MoD spokesperson confirmed that tens of thousands of documents were examined to address long-standing questions about blood and urine testing policies during the program. The findings were published in full following engagement with ministers, veterans, and community groups. The spokesperson acknowledged the significant contribution of the more than 22,000 service personnel, scientists, and civilians who participated in the UK's nuclear testing program, stating, "We owe an enduring debt of gratitude... and helped safeguard our national security."