§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance produced by his Department's Medical Assessment Programme for the administration of tests to monitor the effects of depleted uranium exposure experienced by military and medical auxiliary personnel involved in the Gulf War in 1991. [102175]
32W
§ Mr. SpellarMAP policy on testing for uranium was set out in a MOD paper published on 19 March 1999 entitled "Testing for the Presence of Depleted Uranium—The Current Position". A copy of the paper is in the Library of the House. In summary, testing for uranium is carried out when, in the judgment of the MAP physician, there is a clinical need. The patient is required to provide urine over a 24-hour period which is then tested by a suitably accredited laboratory. Advice on Depleted Uranium is contained in the MOD' s publication intended for GPs and other health professionals entitled "Gulf Veterans' Illnesses: Information Pack" dated May 1999. A copy is in the Library of the House.
I have in addition offered to arrange independent testing specifically for depleted uranium for those Gulf veterans who have privately had their urine tested for depleted uranium in Canada. This offer was made specifically to address the concerns of those tested. A draft protocol, under which this testing will take place, has been passed to veterans associations and others for comment. I will place a copy of the agreed protocol in the Library of the House in due course.