HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 cc400-1W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) former service men or (b) current service men have contacted his Department complaining of ill-health effects they believe to be desert fever arising from contamination from serving in the British forces in Operation Granby.

Mr. Hanley

A total of 15 former and six serving members of the armed forces have contacted my department expressing concern about their health following service in the Gulf. All have been offered the opportunity to be medically assessed by a military consultant. Of the 14 who have accepted this offer, 12 have so far been examined. All have been found to be suffering from separate medically recognised conditions which are not peculiar to service in the Gulf.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent communication he has had with the Trauma After Care Trust regarding concerns over Desert Storm fever; and what plans he has to meet with TACT to discuss the problems.

Mr. Hanley

My Department has no record of receiving any communication from TACT since July 1993 and I have no plans to meet any of TACT's representatives.