COMPENSATION FOR

GULF WAR VETERANS?

Liberal Democrat Peer, Lord (Paul) Tyler today (Monday) asked the Government to accept that sufferers of gulf war syndrome wanted action.

Speaking in the House of Lords, he said "Does the Minister accept that there have been a number of detailed inquiries, not least that of the noble Lord, Lord Lloyd, and the important report of the Royal British Legion.  Does she now accept that there's now a need for action, not more inquiries?"

In response, the Minister said that Gulf War Syndrome was "not a simple cause and effect issue" and claimed that various inquiries had supported her view.

Commenting after the exchange, Lord Tyler said:

"The Minister should look more closely at the reports she prays in aide.  Lord Lloyd's inquiry, in particular, found that gulf war veterans reported many more illnesses than their counterparts in other conflicts.  It's very clear that exposure to organophosphates at the beginning of the first Gulf War had a deleterious effect on many veterans' health.

"As the US Administration has for some time acknowledged a causal link, it seems that only the UK government still cries 'coincidence'.

"This couldn't be a more simple 'cause and effect issue', as the Minister puts it.  It's time the MoD recognised that issue, and compensate veterans accordingly."