HL Deb 06 November 1996 vol 575 cc61-2WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the research teams who submitted unsuccessful proposals for research into Gulf War Illness Syndrome have not been advised of the reasons why their proposals have been rejected when it is the normal practice of the Medical Research Council to give such advice.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)

An announcement of the successful proposals for research on the health of Gulf War veterans and their offspring will be made shortly. Following this announcement, shortlisted research teams who submitted unsuccessful proposals will be advised of the reasons for this by the MRC.

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is a neuroscientist member of the Medical Research Council Gulf War Illness Syndrome Research Committee, in view of the scientific research papers published recently in the United Kingdom and the USA which demonstrate neurological damage found in Gulf War veterans.

Earl Howe

One member of the Medical Research Council's scientific advisory committee on Gulf War illness research is a neurologist.