NUCLEAR TESTS AND HEALTH

Early day motion 1775, tabled 17 October 2002 by Ian Gibson (Labour). Signed by 59 members.

That this House congratulates the Sunday Mirror's investigation exposing the suffering of families of military personnel involved in British atomic weapons testing 50 years ago; notes that this indicates the effects of radiation have been passed onto third and fourth generation descendants of the original victims; that leukemia rates among grandchildren are six times above national average; that still births and miscarriage are abnormally high; that the incidence of Downs Syndrome among victims' relatives is seven times the national average; that earlier studies failed to examine fully the effects on later generations and that in Opposition leading members of the Government called for automatic compensation for the victims of British nuclear tests; and calls on the Government, as a matter or urgency, to set up an independent judicial inquiry.

Signatures by party: Labour 40, Liberal Democrat 9, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, DUP 1.