Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The French parliament has approved a law offering compensation to victims of nuclear weapon tests carried out by France from 1960-1996.

Under the provisions of the bill, the new compensation scheme will apply to former soldiers and civilians who developed cancer and other illnesses from nuclear tests carried out in Algeria and French Polynesia.

The Ministry of Defence says about 150,000 civilian and military personnel took part in the tests.

However, the New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Association says the offer does not go far enough and could set an unwelcome precedent.

Chairman Roy Sefton says the definition of radiation-related illness is too narrow and could set a low threshold for other settlements.

About 100 New Zealand veterans are taking part in a $37 million international class action against the British government, which conducted nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s-1960s.