§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-service personnel have been examined to date by his Department's medical personnel, or on behalf of his Department, concerning Gulf war syndrome. [28625]
§ Mr. SoamesTo date a total of 270 individuals have been medically examined as part of my Department's Gulf war medical assessment programme, 190 of whom were former members of the armed forces at the time of their assessment.
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Gulf war syndrome. [28623]
§ Mr. SoamesWe continue to investigate the allegations of a Gulf war syndrome with scientific rigour, principally through a medical assessment programme. To date 270 veterans have been examined as part of the programme and any remaining veterans concerned about their health are encouraged to come forward for assessment by a service consultant. Preliminary findings of the assessment programme, published in theBritish Medical Journal on 22 April 1995, show that there is no evidence from these clinical examinations that United Kingdom Gulf personnel are suffering from any syndrome or unexplained pattern of illness.
235W
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial and other assistance is made for ex-military personnel suffering from Gulf war syndrome. [28626]
§ Mr. SoamesThere is comprehensive assistance for all ex-service personnel. In addition, those ex-service personnel who are concerned about their health as a result of service in the Gulf conflict have repeatedly been urged to come forward for a medical examination by a service consultant under my Department's Gulf war medical assessment programme. Financial assistance is available to help with the travel and subsistence costs of attending the programme. Veterans coming forward for assessment are given a comprehensive medical examination and offered a diagnosis.
As the prime responsibility for the health of former service personnel rests with the national health service a medical report is forwarded to the individual's civilian general practitioner to assist with further treatment.
Claims for compensation will of course be met by Department if it is proven that a liability in common law exists in respect of the claimed illnesses but to date no detailed grounds for such claims have been submitted by solicitors representing Gulf veterans.
Personnel discharged on medical grounds for whatever reason my be eligible for benefits under the armed forces benefit scheme. In addition, all former service personnel can apply to the War Pensions Agency of the Department of Social Security for a war disablement award if they consider that they are suffering a disability as a direct result of their armed forces service, including service in the Gulf conflict. To date 153 such awards have been made to Gulf veterans, although none is in respect of the alleged Gulf war syndrome. Finally, all former personnel have access to the various welfare organisations and charities associated with the services.
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of Gulf war syndrome have been reported since 1990. [28624]
§ Mr. SoamesThe first cases of the alleged Gulf war syndrome among United Kingdom Gulf veterans were reported in 1993. Since then, 302 individuals have responded to requests from my Department for those who are concerned about their health as a result of service in Operation Granby to come forward to examination under the Department's Gulf war medical assessment programme. Around 240 of these are from a group of some 530 individuals on whose behalf notification has been received from solicitors that they intend to make a claim against my Department in respect of illnesses alleged to result from service in the Gulf. Our investigations have not established any medical or scientific evidence to support a connection between Gulf war service and the reported illnesses.