Defence secretary to probe for missing nuclear test records

But he said he wanted to make sure that everything that was available was disclosed to the men.

“Nothing is being withheld. We’re doing a detailed dig into what may be held, but we’ve not been aware of it,” he said.

“Exercises like this in any part of government often do throw up material and documentation that may have been archived.

“I take our duty to the nuclear test veterans very seriously. I was with Keir Starmer when he was the first party leader to meet with the nuclear test veterans.

“And he gave those veterans his, as I did, our undertaking that we would get to the bottom of the concerns that they had.

“If there are documents that the government holds in any part of the system, then we will release them.”

Alan Owen, of Labrats, the men’s campaign, welcomed the minister’s pledge.

“I think it is positive. We have had a meeting with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. We need answers and if John Healey can deliver them, then brilliant.”

The veterans and their lawyers have proposed the government launches a limited tribunal to establish whether documents were hidden, as an alternative to legal action.

But Mr Healey said a judge-led process could take years to get answers.

“I’ve met some of these aging and some ailing nuclear test veterans and I have just enormous respect for the campaign that they’ve run and share their frustrated anguish,” he said.

“The importance is that we get to the bottom and try and answer the questions they’ve got.”