§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf war veterans have been diagnosed as suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and how many of those diagnosed have subsequently died. [32331]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 12 February 2002]: In the United Kingdom, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is classified as motor neurone disease (MND). As at 22 March 2002, the Ministry of Defence's Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit was aware of four of the 53,462 members of the United Kingdom armed forces identified as having deployed to a state in the Gulf region at some time between 1 September 1990 and 30 June 1991 who have been diagnosed as suffering from MND. We do not however hold complete morbidity data for all veterans of the Gulf conflict so it is possible that MND may have been diagnosed in other veterans without our knowledge.
638WAccording to formal notification to my Department by the Office of National Statistics NHS Central Register, and the Register Generals of Gulf veterans whose deaths have been recorded in England, Wales and Scotland, all four of the UK Gulf veterans diagnosed with MND referred to above have died.