§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Gulf War veterans, medically tested as part of his Department's research programme, have shown signs of uranium-related illness; and if he will make a statement; [72940]
482W(2) how many Gulf War veterans have had a medical test since the research programme commenced; and how many are waiting for a test. [72931]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonA Gulf veteran who is, or has been, concerned about his or her health may be receiving or have received care, including testing, under various auspices. The Ministry of Defence has only centralised data in respect of its Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). This was established in 1993 to provide veterans who believe that their health may have suffered as a result of the Gulf conflict with as full a diagnosis as possible of their medical conditions. During an assessment at the MAP, all referred veterans receive a standard set of screening tests and are asked by the examining MAP physician to provide detailed information about possible factors to which they may have been exposed during the Gulf conflict. As at 18 March 1999, 3,021 Gulf veterans had been referred to the MAP for a medical assessment. Of these, 34 were waiting to be seen for the first time and 201 had failed to appear for one or more appointments; hence, a total of 235 have yet to receive any tests at the MAP.
With regard to the testing of UK Gulf veterans for the presence of depleted uranium (DU), I refer the hon. Member to a detailed paper setting out my Department's position, which I published on Friday 19 March 1999. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
The MAP is not a research programme. The Ministry of Defence is funding a range of studies into different aspects of Gulf veterans' illnesses. One of these studies—a neuromuscular symptoms study being conducted by a team led by Doctors Michael Rose and Mohammed Shareif at King's College, London—involves carrying out clinical tests on Gulf veterans. A further study on UK Gulf veterans under Professors Simon Wessely and Anthony David of King's College, London, which is being funded by the US Department of Defense, is also conducting clinical tests on UK Gulf veterans. Both these research teams are conducting their studies independently of MOD and we do not have access to the data collected, including any clinical findings.