HC Deb 17 October 1996 vol 282 cc1088-9W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the extent of use of organophosphate insecticides by British forces during the Gulf war; how many troops sprayed these pesticides; what items were sprayed by the insecticides; where were the insecticides purchased; what research his Department had carried out(a) before the Gulf war and (b) after the Gulf war into the health implications of using organophosphates; and what advice was given by his Department during the Gulf war to service personnel spraying the insecticides. [41112]

Mr. Soames

These questions will be fully covered in the investigation I have already announced.

Dr. Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list all the pesticides, together with the quantities, used by British troops during the Gulf war; [41253]

(2) if he will list the vaccines given to British forces before they were deployed to the Gulf war; [41254]

(3) if he will make a statement on the tests carried out by his Department on pyridostigmine bromide before its use in the Gulf war. [41255]

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department's current investigations into the cause of Gulf war syndrome include research into the possible contribution made by the inhalation of uranium dust arising from the use of depleted uranium armour-piercing shells; [41295]

(2) which delousing agents were used to treat Iraqi prisoners captured during Operation Granby in the Gulf war; and what health protective measures were taken for (a) the British Army medical service and (b) the Iraqi prisoners from inadvertent inhalation ingestion or skin contamination; [41304]

(3) what research has been conducted on behalf of his Department by the national poisons information service into the causes of Gulf war syndrome. [41292]

Mr. Soames

I will write to the hon. Members and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.