§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has informed Gulf support groups that casualty visiting officers will make special arrangements, including payment of allowances and travel costs, for nominated next of kin to visit hospitalised casualties from the Gulf war.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonNext of kin of hospitalised personnel were informed by service authorities of the special arrangements for visiting their relatives, including eligibility for concessionary travel and subsistence allowances. It was not necessary to inform Gulf support groups separately of the arrangements, although advice was provided on request.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the nominated next of kin of the very seriously ill, the seriously ill and other hospitalised casualties following the Gulf war have been granted allowances for full board and lodgings and travel costs.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe information requested is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost and effort.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the forces returning from the Gulf required or are likely to require hospitalisation; and how many of these have been classified as very seriously ill or seriously ill.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonTo date a total of 811 service personnel requiring hospitalisation have returned from the Gulf during operation Granby. Information on the numbers of very seriously ill or seriously ill cases is collected on a daily basis, not as a running total. There were 10 seriously ill and no very seriously ill cases in United Kingdom military hospitals yesterday.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's special armed forces suffered any casualties as a result of participation in operation Granby.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonFour members of the special forces were killed in action.