§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the decision made on 22 May by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal to oblige the Government to accept the diagnosis of Gulf War Syndrome in the case of a former member of the UK armed forces. [60332]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 13 June 2002]The Pensions Appeal Tribunal's decision in the recent case involving "Gulf War Syndrome" is specific to that case. It does not set a legal precedent for other war pension claims. The Tribunal found that the Ministry of Defence had failed to show beyond reasonable doubt that "Gulf War Syndrome" was not attributable to service. However the overwhelming consensus of medical and scientific opinion is that the symptoms reported by some Gulf veterans do not constitute a discrete disorder. It would be wrong to interpret from the Tribunal's finding that "Gulf War Syndrome" does exist.
The fact that there is, at present, no proper basis for recognising "Gulf War Syndrome" as an appropriate diagnostic label does not prevent a Gulf Veteran getting a war pension. A war pension can be paid for any disablement provided that a causal link to service is accepted.