Mackay calls for respect and acknowledgement for Veterans
Local SNP MSP Derek Mackay participated in a debate in Parliament on Thursday calling for nuclear test veterans to have their unique service and contribution recognised by the UK Government as they fight for compensation for the injuries and damage they have suffered.
The Scottish Parliament debate spoke up for over 20,000 ex-servicemen and their families, who were involved in the nuclear weapons testing, carried out near Christmas Island between 1952 and 1958, by the United Kingdom.
There are now only around 1,000 surviving British nuclear veterans and 70 in Scotland. Ken McGinley, a nuclear test veteran campaigner for 30 years who was at the Parliament, was just a teenager when he joined hundreds of other young men to set sail from Southampton on New Year’s Eve in 1957 and arrived at Christmas Island a month later.
During his 11 months service in the Indian Ocean islands he was exposed to three hydrogen and two atomic bombs.
Ken, now 73, from Johnstone, said:
“All we were told to do was cover our eyes – but when the bomb went off we could see the bones in our clenched fists as they were tucked tightly into the sockets of our eyes.
“The heat was tremendous and the ill-effects started almost immediately, it was horrendous.
“That evening there was men crying and couldn’t sleep properly. We were running to and from the toilet with sickness and diarrhoea not to mention the water blisters. And that was just the start.”
During the debate it was discussed that for many of their families the legacy of the exposure to radiation is still going on. These men were primarily young conscripts, carrying out their national service, and were exposed to dangerous radiation during nuclear weapons testing.
The widows and wives of the veterans have had three times the normal number of miscarriages, 10 times the number of birth defects and their grandchildren are eight times more likely to have abnormal mutations.
Mr Mackay, who has backed the compensation campaign all the way, said:
“Over a thousand claimants, who are seriously ill nuclear test veterans or the widows and children of those who have died, want to gain recognition and compensation from the UK Government.
“I know about the issue because of my Renfrewshire connections—we debated it in the Renfrewshire Council chamber and all the parties agreed. It is frustrating, however, that although some people have very strong views in opposition; a lack of action is forthcoming when they make it into government in Westminster.
“We have a local hero in Ken McGinley, who has been fighting a David and Goliath battle night and day for his fellow servicemen. Ken in particular has also helped people with welfare issues, to ensure that widows and others have had financial support to see them through very difficult times. He has championed that cause through ill health and has not let the flame or the cause of justice die.
“I am only sorry that some of the men involved are not here today to be part of this debate.
“The veterans went beyond the call of duty, and they and their families have had to deal with the consequences which include a range of health risks that have been passed on to the sons, daughters and grandchildren.
“In any other country where servicemen took part in nuclear tests their contribution has been recognised and they have been properly supported.
“If people think that the issue will go away, I say to them that the children of those servicemen will live on with the effects and with the battle for justice to ensure that the veterans are not forgotten and that they are given the support that they rightly deserve.”
NOTES:
Nuclear Test Veterans Motion:
S4M-01242 ? That the Parliament notes that over 20,000 servicemen were involved when the United Kingdom carried out nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific Ocean and at Maralinga, Australia between 1952 and 1967; further notes that there are now only around 1,000 surviving British nuclear veterans and 70 in Scotland, including in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency, and believes that society owes a debt to nuclear veterans and that their unique service and contribution should be recognised in the UK.
Notice of Motion from Councillors MacKay and Doig:
Renfrewshire Council welcomes the news that Atomic Veterans who took part in the British Government nuclear deterrent tests in the 1950’s have won the right at the High Court to seek compensation from the Ministry of Defence; notes around 1,000 servicemen claim they were used as ‘guinea pigs’ by the government to study the effects of radiation during tests in the Pacific Ocean; further notes the veterans and their families have suffered from serious ill health including cancer, bone degeneration and blood disorders; acknowledges that veterans such as former Renfrew District Councillor Ken McGinley from Johnstone have campaigned for decades to receive recognition and compensation and the recent High Court ruling will finally allow them to receive justice. Renfrewshire Council calls upon the UK Government to settle the claims as soon as possible.
Councillor Mackay, seconded by Councillor Doig, then moved the motion, which was unanimously agreed.
The Scottish Parliament debate spoke up for over 20,000 ex-servicemen and their families, who were involved in the nuclear weapons testing, carried out near Christmas Island between 1952 and 1958, by the United Kingdom.
There are now only around 1,000 surviving British nuclear veterans and 70 in Scotland. Ken McGinley, a nuclear test veteran campaigner for 30 years who was at the Parliament, was just a teenager when he joined hundreds of other young men to set sail from Southampton on New Year’s Eve in 1957 and arrived at Christmas Island a month later.
During his 11 months service in the Indian Ocean islands he was exposed to three hydrogen and two atomic bombs.
Ken, now 73, from Johnstone, said:
“All we were told to do was cover our eyes – but when the bomb went off we could see the bones in our clenched fists as they were tucked tightly into the sockets of our eyes.
“The heat was tremendous and the ill-effects started almost immediately, it was horrendous.
“That evening there was men crying and couldn’t sleep properly. We were running to and from the toilet with sickness and diarrhoea not to mention the water blisters. And that was just the start.”
During the debate it was discussed that for many of their families the legacy of the exposure to radiation is still going on. These men were primarily young conscripts, carrying out their national service, and were exposed to dangerous radiation during nuclear weapons testing.
The widows and wives of the veterans have had three times the normal number of miscarriages, 10 times the number of birth defects and their grandchildren are eight times more likely to have abnormal mutations.
Mr Mackay, who has backed the compensation campaign all the way, said:
“Over a thousand claimants, who are seriously ill nuclear test veterans or the widows and children of those who have died, want to gain recognition and compensation from the UK Government.
“I know about the issue because of my Renfrewshire connections—we debated it in the Renfrewshire Council chamber and all the parties agreed. It is frustrating, however, that although some people have very strong views in opposition; a lack of action is forthcoming when they make it into government in Westminster.
“We have a local hero in Ken McGinley, who has been fighting a David and Goliath battle night and day for his fellow servicemen. Ken in particular has also helped people with welfare issues, to ensure that widows and others have had financial support to see them through very difficult times. He has championed that cause through ill health and has not let the flame or the cause of justice die.
“I am only sorry that some of the men involved are not here today to be part of this debate.
“The veterans went beyond the call of duty, and they and their families have had to deal with the consequences which include a range of health risks that have been passed on to the sons, daughters and grandchildren.
“In any other country where servicemen took part in nuclear tests their contribution has been recognised and they have been properly supported.
“If people think that the issue will go away, I say to them that the children of those servicemen will live on with the effects and with the battle for justice to ensure that the veterans are not forgotten and that they are given the support that they rightly deserve.”
NOTES:
Nuclear Test Veterans Motion:
S4M-01242 ? That the Parliament notes that over 20,000 servicemen were involved when the United Kingdom carried out nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific Ocean and at Maralinga, Australia between 1952 and 1967; further notes that there are now only around 1,000 surviving British nuclear veterans and 70 in Scotland, including in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency, and believes that society owes a debt to nuclear veterans and that their unique service and contribution should be recognised in the UK.
Notice of Motion from Councillors MacKay and Doig:
Renfrewshire Council welcomes the news that Atomic Veterans who took part in the British Government nuclear deterrent tests in the 1950’s have won the right at the High Court to seek compensation from the Ministry of Defence; notes around 1,000 servicemen claim they were used as ‘guinea pigs’ by the government to study the effects of radiation during tests in the Pacific Ocean; further notes the veterans and their families have suffered from serious ill health including cancer, bone degeneration and blood disorders; acknowledges that veterans such as former Renfrew District Councillor Ken McGinley from Johnstone have campaigned for decades to receive recognition and compensation and the recent High Court ruling will finally allow them to receive justice. Renfrewshire Council calls upon the UK Government to settle the claims as soon as possible.
Councillor Mackay, seconded by Councillor Doig, then moved the motion, which was unanimously agreed.