§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent evidence he has collated relating to Gulf War Syndrome; what studies have been commissioned by him in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [132694]
§ Mr. Caplin[holding answer 20 October 2003]The Government's position remains as set out in my answers of 23 June 2003,Official Report, columns 687–89W. The fact that the Government does not recognise "Gulf War Syndrome" as a medical condition does not mean that veterans cannot claim war pensions: war pensions are paid on the basis of disability, not diagnosis.
Full details of all the research studies related to Gulf veterans' illnesses which are being funded by the Government are available on the Internet at: www.mod. uk.issues/gulfwar/research.htm.
752WA considerable amount of research into Gulf veterans' illnesses has been undertaken in the United States and its Department of Defense have also funded research in the United Kingdom. There is scientific evidence that some veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict report a number of recognised medical conditions. However, the overwhelming consensus of the scientific and medical community is that there is insufficient evidence to enable this ill-health to be characterised as a unique illness, condition or 'syndrome'.