HC Deb 20 November 1996 vol 285 c612W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the paper inThe New England Journal of Medicine, reporting the mortality studies of Gulf war veterans conducted by Dr. Han Kang. [4573]

Mr. Soames

My Department has noted with interest the paper "Mortality among US Veterans of the Persian Gulf War" by Dr. Han Kang and Tim Bullman.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the interim report of the US presidential advisory committee on Gulf war veterans' illnesses. [4571]

Mr. Soames

My Department has noted the interim report of the US presidential advisory committee, and will examine its final report, when published, with great interest.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the director of the Persian Gulf Veterans Co-ordinating Board in the US concerning research on the illnesses of Gulf war veterans. [4574]

Mr. Soames

I visited the US earlier this month, where I held discussions with the senior members of the US Administration and their staff, including the director of the Persian Gulf Veterans Co-ordinating Board, about research into the illnesses of Gulf war veterans. My Department's officials, both here and in Washington, maintain a very close liaison with their US colleagues, including the director of the Persian Gulf Veterans Co-ordinating Board, on research and other issues relating to the health of Gulf war veterans.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the research carried out by the division of epidemiology and scientific graphics laboratory at the South Western medical school in Dallas relating to the causes of illnesses developed by Gulf war veterans. [4572]

Mr. Soames

We are aware of research into Gulf health issues being conducted at the University of Texas South Western medical school in Dallas, including the work of Dr. Robert Haley. We will look with interest at the results of Dr. Haley's research when they are published.