HL Deb 14 February 2001 vol 622 c37WA
Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made with work to identify a voluntary screening programme for Service personnel and civilians who have served in the Balkans and who are concerned about exposure to depleted uranium. [HL715]

Lord Burlison

The first phase of work to identify a screening programme, which we intend should be equally applicable to Gulf veterans as to those who have served in the Balkans, has been completed. We published yesterday a consultative document setting out the technical issues associated with such a programme, inviting advice and comment in particular from a wide range of expert bodies. A copy of the consultative document is being placed in the Library of the House, and it will also be available on the MoD Internet web-site.

The next step in our work is to develop firm proposals for screening taking into account the advice and comments we receive in response to the consultative document. Those proposals in turn will be the subject of wide consultation.