§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison has taken place with the French authorities relating to Desert Storm syndrome.
§ Mr. HanleyA request for information on this alleged condition has been made through our Defence attache in Paris to the relevant French authorities. The initial response from the French authorities is that they are unaware of any cases of French service personnel who served in the Gulf exhibiting any unexplained symptoms associated with the alleged condition known as Desert Storm syndrome. Such liaison will continue.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received from(a) service personnel, (b) their families and (c) civilian general practitioners relating to Desert Storm syndrome; and if he will publish those representations he has received from civilian general practitioners relating to Desert Storm syndrome which do not contain confidential information.
§ Mr. HanleyMy Department has received one representation from a serving member of the United Kingdom armed forces and four from, or on behalf of, ex-service personnel who served in the Gulf conflict concerning symptoms which they believe might be connected to the alleged Desert Storm syndrome. No such representations have yet been received that have been made by families of United Kingdom service personnel or by civilian general practitioners.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his staff are currently involved in examining information relating to Desert Storm syndrome.
§ Mr. HanleyStaff in a number of areas in my Department have been involved in examining information on the alleged Desert Storm syndrome. None have been specifically allocated to the task, however, and all are undertaking this work as part of their normal duties.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 July,Official Report, column 203, on what date he began liaising with the United States authorities on the question of Desert Storm syndrome.
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§ Mr. HanleyGeneral liaison on medical matters is maintained continuously but the specific official contact between the Defence medical services and the US authorities on this alleged syndrome took place on 17 June 1993.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has concerning the effect of atmospheric pollution on the health of those personnel involved in Operation Granby.
§ Mr. HanleyThe United Kingdom service personnel whose respiratory function was most at risk during Operation Granby were those Royal Engineers personnel engaged in clear-up operations near the oil fires. Their respiratory function was measured before they left the United Kingdom and at two-weekly intervals during their assignment in Kuwait. No adverse affects were suffered and no change in respiratory function was seen.