Top-secret documents detailing the mass medical monitoring of troops during radiation experiments were withheld from Parliament, the Mirror has revealed.

Officials have attributed the oversight to a filing error, but the revelation raises serious concerns about whether ministers have been fully informed about the true extent of Cold War radiation experiments conducted on servicemen.

It also casts doubt on a Ministry of Defence review, initiated after the Nuked Blood scandal was exposed in a 75-minute BBC documentary last November.

Veterans' lawyer Jason McCue condemned the situation, stating, “The notion that our veterans must wait while ministers politely ask officials whether they might consider telling the truth is utterly absurd. There is mounting evidence suggesting that the only truth the MoD acknowledges is what the Mirror has just uncovered. That can no longer continue. Ministers must now disclose their findings to Parliament and engage with veterans’ representatives to swiftly resolve this matter before it spirals further out of control.”

If troops were deliberately exposed to radiation without their informed consent, had their medical data withheld—whether through negligence or intent—and were subsequently denied pensions when they became ill, compensation claims could exceed £5 billion.

McCue further asserted, “It is increasingly apparent that the secrecy surrounding the nuclear test programme is not serving to protect us from foreign threats but is instead shielding the government from its responsibility to our nuclear test veterans.”

Recently uncovered documents were found at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), which maintains a historical archive within a database classified for national security reasons. In 2023, the AWE acknowledged that the database contained “more than 150” documents related to the blood and urine testing of military personnel.

After the Mirror obtained a list of document titles, MPs successfully pressured a minister to declassify 151 files last May. This release exposed 4,000 pages of evidence detailing the monitoring programme, along with individual medical records. The AWE maintained that it held no further documents related to blood or urine testing beyond the 151 already made public. Former minister Andrew Murrison told the Mirror that he had relied on officials’ assurances when making statements on the issue in Parliament.

However, the Mirror has now uncovered the existence of at least 250 additional files—equivalent to an estimated 10,000 pages—that reference blood testing. These records should have been disclosed in ministerial briefings and responses to Freedom of Information requests.

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Some of the newly discovered files include monthly pathology reports documenting blood tests conducted on troops by medical staff stationed at Australian air bases used by crews involved in the nuclear tests. Another document, spanning 12 pages, pertains to servicemen stationed at Maralinga, South Australia, in 1956, where Britain carried out seven nuclear detonations and over 600 additional explosive radiation experiments.

This document is an “administrative instruction” cautioning that all personnel could be exposed to radiation, with potential health effects that "may not develop for some time." It mandates pre-employment medical screenings to establish a baseline and routine check-ups every few months. The instruction specifically states that blood tests "should always be carried out in the forenoon before lunch." It also sets threshold limits for blood test results, advising that personnel be removed from duty if their levels fall below a certain point. Additionally, it directs that duplicate copies of these results be stored in personnel files.

Although originally issued for the Australian military, identical orders were also applied to UK troops. Yet, both British and Australian veterans report that whenever they access their medical records, any sections related to the nuclear tests are missing. In both countries, veterans are routinely denied war pensions on the grounds that their personnel files contain no official evidence of radiation exposure.

Sources revealed that the newly discovered documents were mislabeled in the AWE computer system, tagged with the term "pathology" instead of "blood," which led to them being overlooked in the initial search. Officials have now confirmed that the ongoing review will be expanded to address these findings.

A spokesperson for Veterans Minister Al Carns stated that he had directed staff to prioritize unresolved questions regarding missing medical records. “This review will be thorough, allowing us to gain a clearer understanding of what information the department holds,” they added.

Meanwhile, a new legal challenge is forcing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to either produce the missing records or compensate affected veterans. In an effort to speed up the process and reduce costs, veterans have proposed a one-year special tribunal to uncover the truth and provide swift compensation. However, ministers have yet to issue instructions to government lawyers on how to proceed. They have also dismissed requests from MPs to set a firm deadline for action.