HL Deb 11 November 1996 vol 575 cc85-6WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have had any consultations, or whether there are any joint research programmes, concerning the Gulf War Illness Syndrome with the French Government, and whether they are prepared to support joint research initiatives between groups in the United Kingdom and France to determine the reason for the reported absence of illness among members of the French Armed Forces who served in the Gulf War.

Earl Howe

My department is in close touch with the French authorities in order to establish whether there are any lessons to be learned from the French experience in the Gulf War for our research programme. We have not, at present, received any proposals for joint research, but will consider any such proposals favourably if they were to be made.