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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will accept (a) Gulf war syndrome and (b) acute vaccination reaction as being attributable to service when applications are made for a war pension. [205698] Mr. Caplin: Under the terms of the War Pensions Scheme, claimed disablements are accepted in terms of the underlying medically recognised pathological process. "Gulf War Syndrome" is not medically recognised and we cannot therefore use the term. The fact that there is, at present, no proper basis for recognising "Gulf war syndrome" as a diagnostic label does not prevent payment of compensation for symptoms claimed under that term or more generally as "Gulf illness". Any ill-defined symptoms that cannot be attributed to a specific recognised diagnosis are considered under the recognised diagnostic label "signs, symptoms and ill-defined conditions", and awards will be made where they are found to be disabling and due to service. The term "acute vaccine reaction" is a discrete recognised diagnostic label and awards can be made under the War Pension Scheme where such a diagnosis is agreed and found to be due to service.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

205698; 428 c1578W;428 c1576W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Armed forces Diagnosis Diseases Iraq-Kuwait conflict Medical records Vaccination Side effects War pensions Gulf War syndrome Veterans

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk