HC Deb 11 March 1994 vol 239 cc419-20W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information in the form of oral testimony or written submission his Department has provided to the scientific panel established by the United States Defence Department to investigate the Desert Storm syndrome effects on allied service men who served in the Gulf war.

Mr. Hanley

My Department has been invited to provide information to two of the scientific panels established by the United States authorities to investigate the alleged Desert Storm syndrome. One is the defence science board task force on Gulf war health effects and the other the committee to review the health consequences of service during the Persian Gulf war.

My Department has provided both oral and written information confirming that there were no detections of chemical agents during the Gulf conflict and no evidence that British troops were exposed to such agents.

A written note on United Kingdom experience of the alleged Desert Storm syndrome was also provided to the committee which confirms our previously announced findings that there is no clinical evidence that members of the British armed forces are suffering from any unexplained medical condition peculiar to their service in the Gulf.

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