§ 14. Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met representatives from the Gulf War Veterans Association to discuss Gulf war syndrome. [2054]
§ Dr. ReidAs part of our commitment to listening to their concerns, the Secretary of State for Defence and I met veterans' representatives, including members of the Gulf Veterans Association, on 29 May. I was encouraged by the welcome extended by veterans to the new measures I announced last month, including new research on the effects of vaccines, additional resources for the medical assessment programme and a full and open explanation of the scientific basis on which our troops were protected against Biological Warfare in the Gulf.
§ 21. Mr. KempTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met representatives from the Gulf War Veterans Association to discuss issues relating to their service in the Gulf. [2062]
§ Dr. ReidAs part of our commitment to listen to their concerns, the Secretary of State for Defence and I met veterans' representatives, including members of the Gulf Veterans Association, on 29 May. A wide range of issues was discussed.
§ 26. Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive the preliminary assessment of the causes of Gulf war illness from the current review. [2067]
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§ Mr. ReidThe Ministry of Defence is funding two epidemiological studies into the health of Gulf veterans and their families. These aim to identify whether there are any unusual patterns of ill health and if so to relate these to common risk factors so far as possible. Research of this type is not intended to test any particular casual hypothesis. The studies commenced earlier this year and have an expected duration of three years. It is too soon to predict when preliminary results might become available. Proposals for implementation of the research into the possible health effects of having multiple vaccinations and taking other medications concurrently, which was announced on 11 May, are currently being developed.