HC Deb 16 January 1997 vol 288 cc310-1W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current location of the tents used in Operation Granby in the Gulf war; how many were returned form the Gulf after hostilities ended; and how many were(a) burned and (b) buried in the Gulf area. [10897]

Mr. Soames

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the anti-malarial agents administered to troops and medical support personnel during Operation Granby in the Gulf war. [10895]

Mr. Soames

I will write to the hon. Member.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all vaccinations and injections administered to service personnel during the Gulf war were recorded on their medical records; and if he will make a statement. [11222]

Mr. Soames

Details of the vaccinations administered to personnel during the Gulf conflict should have been entered on to individual medical records—form FMed4— by transcription from nominal rolls compiled in theatre. Details should also have been recorded on personal medical records—form BMed27—if available. Unfortunately, in many cases transcription of the relevant details has not taken place. Some nominal rolls have also been lost or destroyed since the conflict. A search has now been initiated for any surviving nominal rolls, and medical records of Gulf veterans which are currently incomplete will be updated to a more acceptable standard wherever possible.

Dr. Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Gulf war veterans are being charged a fee to obtain a copy of their service medical records; and if he will make a statement. [11225]

Mr. Soames

No charge is made to general practitioners who request copies of service medical records to assist their treatment of ex-service personnel. Under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, a charge to cover the cost of retrieval, plus a photocopying charge per sheet may be made to individuals who themselves request their medical notes. The Ministry of Defence normally levies a charge of £10 plus 10p per sheet, as does the national health service.