HL Deb 28 January 2004 vol 656 cc43-4WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the response of the War Pensions Agency to the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Graham Howe of the British Forces Health Service in Germany on Lance Corporal Alex Izett's previously unexplained illnesses since receiving multiple vaccinations for deployment to the Gulf for the 1990–91 conflict. [HL738]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)

It is normal practice for the Veterans Agency to obtain medical reports on claims for war pensions. The report in question was a medical opinion relating to Mr Izett's war pension claim. It formed part of the evidence considered when determining that claim. The Veterans Agency decided, taking account of all the evidence before it, that a reasonable doubt was not raised that disablement was caused by service and the claim was not accepted. On appeal, the Pensions Appeal Tribunal disagreed, finding that a reasonable doubt was raised. The Ministry of Defence has accepted this decision and an award has now been made.