Written question asked by Brian H Donohoe (Labour) on Monday, 23 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 27 February 2004. It was answered by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Friday, 27 February 2004 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Gulf War veterans of the 1990-91 campaign are estimated to be suffering from auto-immune induced osteoporosis; what plans he has to introduce (a) a compensation scheme and (b) additional pension entitlement for Gulf War veterans of the 1990-91 campaign who are suffering from auto-immune induced osteoporosis. - Inc ref to 417 c245-6W, 27 January 2004.

Answer: Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Gulf War veterans of the 1990-91 campaign are estimated to be suffering from auto-immune induced osteoporosis; [156356] (2) what plans he has to introduce (a) a compensation scheme and (b) additional pension entitlement for Gulf War veterans of the 1990-91 campaign who are suffering from auto-immune induced osteoporosis. [156357] Mr. Caplin: There is no clinical evidence to support an autoimmune basis for osteoporosis and therefore the Ministry of Defence has no plan to introduce a related compensation scheme or additional pension entitlement. In respect of the prevalence of osteoporosis, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 27 January 2004, Official Report, columns 245-46W.

Secondary information