HL Deb 05 July 1996 vol 573 cc123-4WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider that the deaths of numerous camels, sheep and goats reported after the end of Operation Granby could be attributed to exposure to nerve gas.

Earl Howe

As stated previously on this subject, it is to be expected that animals will die in any conflict, and this was so in the Gulf. The local nomadic bedouin herded both sheep and camels which normally grazed within the war zone on both sides of the border. As to the causes of death in those animals found, it is the opinion of the veterinary officer who was with the British forces that the deaths were caused by starvation, battle casualties or Iraqi and local culling. Samples from dead animals were sent back to the Edinburgh Veterinary School and Tropical Medicine Centre and all were found to have died of natural causes or such things as eating vehicle batteries. There was no evidence of death by nerve gas.