§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many notices of intention to claim compensation for their illnesses have been received so far by his Department from service personnel who served in the Gulf War; and how many writs have so far been received from such personnel. [33844]
§ Dr. ReidUp to 6 March 1998 the Ministry of Defence had received a total of 1,751 notices of intention to claim in respect of Gulf related illness. 93 have been withdrawn, leaving a total of 1,658 current notices of intention to claim held by my Department. Of these, 260 are in respect of civilians or the children of Service personnel and civilian Ministry of Defence employees. No writs have yet been served against the Ministry of Defence in respect of any of these cases.
In addition to these 1,658 notices of intention to claim, the Ministry of Defence is investigating 10 claims alleging negligence in the diagnosis and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder said to have arisen from service in the Gulf. 5 of these claimants have issued proceedings.