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Chamber and committees

60th Anniversary of Grapple Y, Multi-megaton Thermonuclear Weapon Test

  • Submitted by: Christina McKelvie, Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Monday, 23 April 2018
  • Motion reference: S5M-11791

That the Parliament recognises the 60th anniversary of Grapple Y, the test of a multi-megaton thermonuclear weapon of mass destruction by the UK held on Christmas (Kiritimati) Island on 28 April 1958; understands that, along with nearly 14,000 British troops, 551 New Zealand sailors and 276 Royal Fiji Military Force and Fiji Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve troops were involved in the testing programme known as Operation Grapple, along with dozens of Gilbertese Islanders, who worked as labourers to support the operation; further understands that survivors of these tests subsequently died due to cancer, leukaemia and other illnesses that can be caused by radiation, with children of the Gilbertese plantation workers experiencing eye damage and other health effects from the nine nuclear detonations during Operation Grapple, and urges the UK Government to provide compensation, medical support and environmental rehabilitation to everyone affected by the operation, including New Zealand and Fijian military personnel and I-Kiribati living on Christmas Island.


Supported by: Clare Adamson, Tom Arthur, James Dornan, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Ruth Maguire, Gillian Martin, John Mason, Ivan McKee, Gail Ross, Alex Rowley, David Torrance, Sandra White