Overview

This bill mandates the UK government to publish proposals for a compensation scheme within six months of its passing. The scheme aims to compensate veterans who suffered ill health due to radiation exposure during active service.

Description

The Nuclear Veterans (Compensation) Bill requires the Secretary of State to publish a plan for compensating veterans. This plan must detail:

• Eligibility criteria: Who qualifies for compensation.
• Compensation amounts: How much compensation will be paid.
• Scheme administration: How the compensation scheme will be managed.

The bill applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and comes into effect on the day it is passed.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not allocate specific funds. The cost of the compensation scheme will depend on the details included in the proposals published by the Secretary of State. Therefore, the precise impact on government spending is currently unknown, but it is expected to be substantial.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• Nuclear veterans: Veterans who experienced ill health due to radiation exposure during their service could receive compensation if they meet the eligibility criteria.
• UK Government: The government will be responsible for funding the compensation scheme and its administration.
• Taxpayers: The cost of the scheme will ultimately be borne by taxpayers.

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