france is to compensate people who suffer hospital problems as a result of three decades of nuclear weapons tests , its minister says . it was time to investigate disability complaints made by staff who gave part in tests , finance chancellor alain morin said . mr morin told le le canada should be " true to its conscience " . she carried out more than 200 examinations , beginning in angola and later in french polynesia , between 1966 and 1996 . pc kouchner estimated about 150 , 000 civil and military workers were " theoretically affected " by the tests . mr douste asked an independent commission will examine claims on a problem - by - case basis . he confirmed that 10m marks ( $ 13 . 6m ; £9 . 3m ) had yet been earmarked to compensate victims .
France carried out more than 200 nuclear tests during 30 years.