Written question asked by Lord Morris of Manchester (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Sainsbury of Turville (Labour) on Monday, 16 October 2006.

Gulf War Illnesses

Question: What studies the Medical Research Council has made of the findings of research funded by the Government of the United States into the illnesses of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War; by whom the studies were undertaken; at what cost to public funds; what the outcomes of such studies were; and whether British veterans with Gulf War illnesses and the bereaved families of those who have died since the conflict have been informed of them.

Answer: In 2003 the Medical Research Council, through the Military Health Research Advisory Group (MHRAG), undertook a comprehensive review of relevant Gulf research, including studies funded by the US authorities. It is not possible to give a cost of the review of the US studies in isolation but the cost of the review is estimated at between £20,000 to £25,000, the main expenses being MRC staff time, travel and hotel costs for non-MRC staff involved and administration. The review, which was published on the MRC website¹, made a number of recommendations on where future research might focus and provided additional advice to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). MRC has made the information available on its website. ¹ The current url is www.mrc.ac.uk/index/public-interest/public-topical_issues/public-military_health/public-gulf_veterans.htm, however the MRC is currently re-launching its site and this address will change shortly.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 685 c174-5WA; 7441
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Gulf War Illnesses
Monday, 6 November 2006
Written questions
House of Lords; Gulf War Illnesses
Thursday, 30 November 2006
Written questions
House of Lords; Gulf War Illnesses
Thursday, 30 November 2006
Written questions
House of Lords; Gulf War Illnesses
Monday, 30 October 2006
Written questions
House of Lords; Gulf War Illnesses
Monday, 30 October 2006
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Costs Iraq-Kuwait conflict Research USA Gulf War syndrome Medical Research Council Veterans
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk