§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek to obtain from his American counterpart the evidence presented to the United States Department of Defence by Gulf war veterans of statistically significant rates of increased morbidity in children born to Gulf war veterans and of genetic deformations in offspring born to Gulf war veterans; and if he will institute an inquiry into the mortality and morbidity statistics of children born to British Gulf war veterans since they returned from service in the Gulf.
458W
§ Mr. SoamesMy Department remains in close contact with the United States authorities over all aspects relating to the alleged Gulf war illnesses. We are aware of claims of increased birth defects and childhood illnesses among the families of certain United States armed forces units and understand that these have been investigated by the appropriate authorities and shown to be unfounded. Wider statistics relating to birth defects reported by United States Gulf veterans indicate that the incidence of such defects is no higher than among the general population. In the United Kingdom, similarly, there is currently no evidence to suggest that the incidence of genetic defects and mortality among the children of Gulf veterans' families is any higher than the national average. We do, however, urge those who are concerned to come forward for assessment to allow us to increase the statistical and clinical database available to us.