“The BNTVA is the premier UK Charity concerned with the health and wellbeing of all Atomic Veterans and their descendants, we address these issues through Education, Research and Support. We also act to preserve the heritage of the Veterans experiences. We assist individual members with pension tribunals but are not involved in any other campaigning or litigation for compensation, albeit some of our members are part of the current litigation, as are large number of other Veterans. We would obviously welcome any financial assistance to our Atomic Veterans but could not support a scheme that may hinder or even jeopardise the progression of the litigation. Many of our members are happy to speak to the press regarding their experiences but, as with participation in the litigation, it must be stressed that they are acting in a personal capacity and that the views they may express are their own and not those of the BNTVA charity.
Our three landmark projects at this moment are;
¿ Working alongside the Royal British Legion to produce an educational pack that will take the heritage of our Veterans direct to the heart of every school in the country.
¿ Working closely with both the Government and the Ministry of Defence to establish a wide ranging study in to the health and wellbeing needs of the Veterans, their spouses and their descendents.
¿ Recruiting and training a force of volunteers to assist all our needy members in obtaining Help, Information, Financial and Physical Support with any matter affecting their health and wellbeing.
If anyone would like more information about BNTVA ¿the charity for atomic veterans¿ or would like to become involved as a volunteer or member please contact us as below.

BNTVA Contact Details
Web: www.bntva.com
Email: chairman @bntva.com or secretary @bntva.com
Tel: National Contact Number -020 814 3080
All Media Enquiries - 0161 748 4537”

“My father was a serviceman with the Australian Navy during these tests. My mother & I moved over here after he died from cancer as a result from the testing. to date still had no compensation. Also I find it funny this paper is honouring a person my mother tried to contact for help in finding out further information but to date has never had any repy from Heaps or the BNTVA.”

“As said, this has been going on under both the Labour and Conservative Governments, but it is only since the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act in 2000 that we have been able to access some of the information which proves we were treated like Human Guinea Pigs. When the last administration realised we were now able to obtain information about the atrocities committed against our Armed Forces and Allies they refused to give out any vital information which proved our case. I also believe a lot of these covert actions were perpetrated by some Civil servants. They obviously wanted to ensure they would retain their large bonuses at the end of the year (I heard the MOD had the largest bonuses in the Civil Service last year: for what?) Many letters and FOI questions I have submitted have been totally ignored.
When Kevan Jones became Minister for Defence I wrote him a six page letter detailing the facts of the Nuclear Test Veterans plea for justice, but it was answered by a Civil Servant, not by Kevan Jones. I believed then, and still do, that Kevan Jones did not get the chance to read the letter. I once wrote in a letter: that it would be easier to get information from the Kremlin than the MOD:
This is still my opinion!”

“The fact that this dispute has continued under governments of both parties suggests that the opponents of compensation are in the permanent, unelected areas of government - high in the civil service or other influential bodies with vested interests.

If the veterans' case was accepted, it would be an admission of the hazards that military and civilian people were exposed to by nuclear testing. This would also stir interest in the hazards from accidents and disposal of waste in nuclear power stations (for example, the full truth about the Windscale pollution in the 1950s was kept from the public).

All nuclear activity whether in weapons or energy is a very touchy subject for the authorities.

This denial of responsibility by government follows the same shameful line as denying the truth about Gulf War Syndrome despite the mass of evidence. It contrasts markedly with the ease with which government ministers and their banking and business friends reward themselves at every opportunity.”