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Gulf War: Veterans

It is good of my noble friend to give way, and I am most grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken in the debate. Before the Minister concludes, I must again make it utterly clear that the senior programme officer of the Institute of Medicine in the United States has stated categorically that the RAC’s report was not referred to the IoM for peer review, that it has not peer-reviewed the report and that it will not be doing so. There will be no report on 8 April. There will be a statement from the IoM on 9 April, and I cited Secretary Shinseki to the effect that he has not awaited the outcome of the IoM’s comments to take his decisions. I hope that noble Lords will look at the statements I made this afternoon because it is important that we should not misrepresent American organisations of high standing. Secretary Shinseki has made important statements about the future and his change of policy. They are easily checkable by telephone and must be heeded in any steps taken here as a result of this debate.