§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what co-operation he is offering to Dr. Roger Sutcliffe of the department of human genetics at the university of Glasgow for his proposal of a pilot study into miscarriages, still births, respiratory problems or low resistance to infection among babies born of Gulf war veterans.
§ Mr. SoamesMy Department wrote on 7 March to the department of medical genetics at the university of Glasgow seeking clarification of Dr. Sutcliffe's views and further details of his proposal for a study. We also set out figures of service birth rates and information which indicates that the incidence of miscarriages, still births, birth defects and infant morbidity among families of Gulf veterans is no greater than the national average and has not changed since the Gulf conflict. My Department continues, however, to assess all available information and will give full consideration to Dr. Sutcliffe's views.