HL Deb 25 November 1997 vol 583 c110WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What study they have made in respect of the United States President's recent announcement on the handling of inquiries about the Gulf War illnesses suffered by 60,000 United States veterans; and whether they consider any further action to be necessary in Britain to correspond with his stated intention to make it easier for the former United States servicemen and women stricken by these illnesses to receive appropriate treatment and benefits.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)

The Government have studied very carefully the statement made by President Clinton on 8 November concerning the actions he proposes to take in the light of the recent Special Report of the US Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses. We will closely monitor the implementation of these actions as part of our ongoing close co-operation with the US authorities, in order to ensure that our handling of British Gulf veterans' health concerns benefits from the US experience. As set out in our policy statementGulf Veterans' Illnesses: A New Beginning, published on 14 July this year, the Government are committed to ensuring that all British Gulf veterans receive appropriate medical help and financial provision with the minium delay.