§ 7. Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the use of organophosphate pesticides by British troops in the Gulf war. [4315]
§ Mr. SoamesAs I announced last month, we have initiated an urgent and comprehensive investigation into the use of organophosphate pesticides during the Gulf war. I will report further and in great detail when that work is complete.
§ Ms EagleDoes the Minister realise that it is two months since he told the House that the use of such dangerous materials was much more widespread, and had possibly affected our troops during the Gulf war? Does he recall saying last month that an investigation would take place? Despite that, we have still heard nothing. Can the Minister tell the House when we are likely to hear the details of the investigation initiated by his Ministry? There are hundreds of Gulf war veterans with Gulf war syndrome out there, and they are very worried indeed.
§ Mr. SoamesThe hon. Lady is right: when I answered a question—the same question—that she asked on 29 October, I did indeed say that we would report to the House as soon as we had the information to hand, and that remains the case. This is an extremely detailed and urgently conducted investigation. I hope to be able to make a statement to the House early in December, with all the information that it will need in order to reach a conclusion.
§ Mr. RobathanThe whole House will join my hon. Friend in wishing to ensure that people injured by their service are well looked after by Her Majesty's forces. Does my hon. Friend not agree, however, that a bandwagon is trundling by, on to which many Opposition 142 Members and lawyers are jumping? Does he accept that, six years after my service in the Gulf, the awful cold I have is not a matter for compensation?
§ Mr. SoamesI am grateful to my hon. Friend, who knows at first hand the great importance that we attached to looking after our troops during what was a major deployment. Interestingly, because of extraordinary advances in medical science, we were able to have a deployment that was relatively disease-free—certainly in comparison with the experiences of the desert army in the last war.
I agree with my hon. Friend that it is important to keep in touch with reality, but there is no doubt that there are people who served in the Gulf who, having come home, are not well. It is also true that a substantial body of research in the United States, along with a good deal of research in this country, has concluded that there is no Gulf war syndrome per se, but that there are people who served in the Gulf and are ill. We must ensure that they are cared for properly, honourably and decently—and they will be.