§ 2.41 p.m.
§ The Countess of MarMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. In so doing, I declare an interest as patron of the Gulf Veterans Association.
The Question was as follows:
What was the source of funding for the contract for research into Gulf War syndrome to be conducted at King's College Medical School, and who is responsible for selecting those who will conduct the research.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)My Lords, the study to be undertaken by Dr. Simon Wessely at King's College Medical School is being funded by the US Department of Defense as a result of its calls for proposals on possible causes and treatment of Gulf War veterans' illness. Dr. Wessely's research project is one of 12 selected by the research working group of the US Persian Gulf Veterans Co-ordinating Board.
§ The Countess of MarMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that a great deal of concern is being expressed by individual Gulf War veterans, solicitors representing them and the organisations who support the Gulf veterans over the choice of Dr. Simon Wessely? He has written in The Times in uncompromising terms that Gulf War syndrome is caused solely by post-traumatic stress syndrome. Does the noble Earl appreciate that Gulf veterans who are ill will be unwilling to take part in the research because they believe that Dr. Wessely approaches the matter with preconceived ideas? Why do we have to rely on American money for research into our veterans? Can the Minister say how much we are spending on research and how many projects the Medical Research Council has already approved?
Earl HoweMy Lords, it is not for me to comment on the likely course of Dr. Wessely's research. His research proposal was selected by a team of US research experts asked to commission studies which were most likely to discover whether the Gulf War had any unusual or unique health effects on personnel who served in the conflict. It is a study commissioned by the US Government, not by us. We have nothing to do with the decision which the US authorities took.
The noble Countess asked about British research which is, of course, much more on my mind than the US programme. Work to commission research is proceeding under the oversight of the Medical Research Council. It will be resourced adequately by the Government for approved research projects. We are satisfied that the timetable is being adhered to. The MRC intends to make its decision on proposals to be accepted by the end of October and work will proceed thereafter.
§ Lord Ashley of StokeMy Lords, if, as the noble Countess stated, the doctor has expressed preconceived ideas, does that not disqualify him from independent research?
Earl HoweMy Lords, I have said that this is work commissioned by the US Government. I understand that Dr. Wessely enjoys a high reputation in his particular field. I do not wish to make any further comment on that. The UK Government are not involved in the commissioning of the work.
§ Lord Williams of ElvelMy Lords, the Minister says that the UK Government have not been involved in commissioning the research and that it is funded entirely by the United States Department of Defense. What is the Government's view of the research? Do the Government support the project in general despite providing no funds or do they condemn it?
Earl HoweMy Lords, we have been in close touch with the US authorities on the work they have commissioned. We have no reason to doubt that the decision taken by the US authorities was not well founded. However, I cannot accept the allegation that Dr. Wessely is inherently biased towards the work he is undertaking. The article that I read concerning his approach to the subject emphasised the need for a rigorous scientific approach to research in this area, which I am sure is the only way forward.
§ Lord DesaiMy Lords, can the Minister explain why it has taken such a long time for the MRC to commission research? It has not yet commissioned anyone. How long will it take to find the reasons for the Gulf War syndrome?
Earl HoweMy Lords, it is important that the eminent scientific and medical specialists appointed by the MRC to oversee the matter have sufficient time to assess the background material to matters related to Gulf War illness and to assess the proposals submitted. It was also important to give sufficient time to potential researchers to formulate their own proposals. I do not think that we dragged our feet. I believe that the research that the United States is undertaking, and the research that we shall be commissioning, will dovetail satisfactorily.
§ Lord DaintonMy Lords, will the Minister be kind enough to answer this question? Will the work undertaken by Dr. Wessely be published freely in the open literature? That seems to me a prime consideration in relation to its independence.
Earl HoweMy Lords, I do not know the answer to that question. I shall write to the noble Lord with an answer. I understand that Dr. Wessely's research will focus on the prevalence of unexplained illnesses including chronic fatigue-like symptoms in members of the UK Armed Forces deployed to the Gulf.