Following on from Susie Boniface's article in the Daily Mirror which exposed that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) had rewritten the initial NRPB report into the Health of the Nuclear Veterans, we follow up with more details.
We start with the first page of a letter sent from Mr McTaggart of the Ministry of Defence to Dr R Clarke who was the Director of the National Radiological Protection Board dated 4 January 1988.
"Both documents contain sections which in view of
MOD official are ether defective in logic or potentially misleading."
On the subject of increased Leukaemia and Multiple Myeloma the MOD accepted that these could not be chance findings, yet argued that the low occurrence rate in the control group could be a chance finding and should be included in the conclusion. (Which it was)
The succession of "if real", "if caused by radiation", "probably due to
ingestion of a long lived radionuclide", at best leaves the casual reader
with the impression that the excess is real, it was caused by radiation
and that there is evidence of ingestion of radionuclides and at worst
give the veterans a bonanza of phrases to quote out of context."
The arrogance of the MOD, telling scientists that their research conclusion was so hedged with conditional clauses that it was wrong and would give the veterans some leverage in their fight for truth and justice. The patronising statement that it would give the veterans a bonanza of phrases to use of out context is one which is extremely disrespectful to the veterans and those who fought for their country.
"In epidemiological terms, the states hypotheses in the
recommendations are clearly those which emerge from the conclusions."
In order to ensure that the conclusion was what the MOD wanted, they rewrote it and it was this conclusion that was published.
Mr McTaggart an MOD employee, rewrote the conclusion, rewrote sections of the report to meet the narrative of the MOD, that there has been no harm to the men. This report was meant to be an independent report and is still referred to as such today, including by Andrew Murrison MP in the debate in Parliament on 28th/11/2023 which can be viewed here
This is the revised conclusion, written by Mr McTaggart of the Ministry of Defence.
It is also stated that this report only looks at cancer and mortality, no other non-fatal diseases or any ill-health of the veterans and nothing for the descendants.
Press Conference
The NRPB report was delivered at a press conference in 1988.
The press conference was controlled by the Ministry of Defence.
Including an embargo on the report and that the NRPB scientists must not be interviewed before a certain time.
As the press conference will trigger requests for a response, the MOD will prepare a standard set of answers to the questions.
These answers to the questions were again read out by Andrew Murrison MP at the debate held on the 23/11/23, almost word for word. These are not the findings of the scientists, these are the words of Mr McTaggart, MOD employee who rewrote the conclusion.
Yet evidence that has now come from respected scientists since this report are still being ignored, but Mr Murrison still quotes from the original study and has dismissed the Massey Study of 2007, instead quoting the Brunel Research which has yet to finish fully.
Draft Press Release
The press release was also checked and authorised by the Ministry of Defence.
It states that the authors of the study conclude. This is not true, it is Mr McTaggart that concludes. He rewrote the conclusion.
Mr McTaggart's comments about the low rates in the control group for leukaemia and multiple myeloma is now included in the press release and the chance factor has now been included.
The accuracy of data is also brought into question and we know that the blue books only contain between 80 and 85% of the participants.
The press release is one which the MOD were happy with.
Mr McTaggart ensured that the NRPB Press Release was checked and signed off.
Andrew Murrison MP stood in a debate in Westminster Halls on the 28th of November 2023 and claimed the reports were independent. The evidence given in this blog clearly shows that this is not true, the MOD rewrote the report, were involved in the Press Release and prepared a list of answers to questions for the Minister to answer.
So the MOD, funded the research, provided the participants, changed the initial report, prepared the press release and answers for the Minister at a press conference. How on earth is this independent?
Yet still the government deny any cover-up, any wrongdoing, any involvement in 'independent reports'. We cannot see how the UK Government can defend the actions of the Ministry of Defence in 1988, in particular M H McTaggart. Some veterans and opposing voices to our campaign have asked me for the details of what was changed, this blog delivers the evidence.
Mr McTaggart was only one person, employed by the Ministry of Defence, but his actions have lead to the denial of many War Pension claims and are still today being used by the MOD to cover-up the truth.
A copy of this blog has been sent to Johnny Mercer, Grant Shapps and Andrew Murrison for comment.
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