Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Morris of Manchester (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 11 October 2007.

Gulf War Illnesses

Question: My Lords, while I am grateful to my noble friend, is it not disquieting that, 17 years on from the conflict, wrangling with veterans over pensions still drags on, with no visible sign of closure? Can he now at least make it clear that Gulf War syndrome will be fully recognised as a meaningful condition by the MoD, both publicly and when making assessment decisions, as it is by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal? Finally, is it not deeply shaming that Gulf War veteran Terence Walker, whose case I raised orally earlier this year, his pension having been cut from 100 per cent to 40 per cent, died shortly after being left, together with dependent children—to quote his own words—““in financial ruin””? What sort of appreciation does that betoken of those prepared to lay down their lives for this country?

Answer: My Lords, my noble friend is absolutely right to raise these issues, as he has over many years. The issue of Gulf War syndrome will be fully recognised by the Ministry of Defence, and I accept on behalf of the Ministry of Defence that this issue has not been handled well from the beginning. The department was slow to recognise the emerging ill health issues and to put measures in place to address them. We have apologised for this, and I repeat that apology today. With regard to the specific case that my noble friend mentions, I should also like to apologise on behalf of the Ministry of Defence to Mr Walker’s family. The Ministry of Defence made a mistake, and it has written to the Walker family to make that clear.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 695 c341
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Related items: Armed Forces: War Pensions
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Written questions
House of Lords; Armed Forces: War Pensions
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Written questions
House of Lords; Armed Forces: Gulf War Veterans
Monday, 14 January 2008
Written questions
House of Lords; Armed Forces: War Pensions
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Iraq-Kuwait conflict War pensions Gulf War syndrome Veterans Families
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk