§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in all three services have been medically downgraded as a result of service in the Gulf since January 2003, broken down by reason for downgrading; and if he will make a statement. [176803]
§ Mr. CaplinAs of 20 December 2003, centrally held records show that 1,669 military personnel had been medically downgraded subsequent to their arrival in the Gulf region on deployment on Operation Telic. The main reasons for downgrading are as follows:
294W
Causes of medical downgrading Number of military personnel medically downgraded1 Musculoskeletal disorders 587 Injuries 468 Mental and behavioural disorders 140 Respiratory system disorders 87 Pregnancies 83 Other causes 294 Cause not recorded 10 Total 1,669 1Numbers of Service personnel deployed on Op Telic and subsequent medical down gradings during 2003 excludes Special Forces personnel.