Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Lloyd of Berwick (Crossbench). It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 March 2009.

Gulf War Illnesses

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will now accept the findings of the United States Research Advisory Committee, based on a review of all the evidence, that the two most likely causes of Gulf War illness are the issue of NAPS tablets by the Ministry of Defence and the use of organophosphate sprays.

Answer: My Lords, first, I am sure that the whole House will wish to join me in offering sincere condolences to the family and friends of Marine Michael Laski, Corporal Tom Gaden, Lance Corporal Paul Upton and Rifleman Jamie Gunn, who died as a result of injuries sustained on operations in Afghanistan recently, and to the family and friends of Sapper Patrick Azimkar and Sapper Mark Quinsey, who were killed in Northern Ireland on Saturday. Turning to the Question, the Government have examined the report following its publication on 17 November. Noble Lords will be aware that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has sent the report to the highly respected Institute of Medicine for review, and we await the outcome of this process before making any conclusions on the report.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 708 c1055
Session: 2008-09
Oral question type: Lead
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Related items: Gulf War Illnesses
Monday, 27 April 2009
Oral questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Armed forces Chemical weapons Health hazards Iraq-Kuwait conflict Protection Preventive medicine Gulf War syndrome Organophosphates US Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk