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Latest News on the outcome of the Gulf War Conference

Gulf War Policy Document front cover There has been significant media attention recently about the welfare and support for our Service personnel returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; and rightly so. However, there are another group of veterans who continue to suffer ill health as a consequence of service in the Gulf over 16 years ago.

Veterans of the Gulf War 1990-91 continue to endure a range of illnesses, and do so at more than twice the rate of their non-deployed colleagues. And, although there has been some scientific investigation, medical science is still unable to offer an explanation as to why this has occurred.

When Gulf War veterans first started to report a high number of illnesses, veterans’ organisations and concerned parliamentarians formed the Gulf War Group to consider the issues and to bring them to the attention of the public and the government.

The Gulf War Group is a single interest group. Representatives are drawn from veterans’ organisations, medical and scientific fields and parliamentarians; importantly the Group also includes veterans.

On 9 May, the Gulf War Group hosted a one day conference for veterans. At the event, the Gulf War Group launched their new report entitled Gulf War: a legacy of suspicion, which consolidates the evidence and debates surrounding Gulf War illnesses. The report outlines the steps that the UK government must take to recognise the sacrifice these veterans have made, and improve support provision.

The report was also presented to the Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans, Mr Derek Twigg who addressed the conference. This was the first time in 10 years that a Minster has taken time to talk directly with, and listed to the views of Gulf War veterans. The Minister also took time over lunch to talk to veterans about their concerns.

However, the conference was not just about the report, it was also an opportunity for Gulf War veterans to hear about the progress that has been made on the issue since the release of The Lloyd Inquiry in 2004, to express their views directly to the Minster and to contribute to this ongoing debate.

The Conference was chaired by Sir Peter de la Billére and led by the Rt Hon Lord Morris of Manchester, who has worked tirelessly on behalf of Gulf War veterans for well over a decade. The Chairman of the Gulf War Group, Sue Freeth, outlined in detail the priorities for Gulf War veterans and presented the report to the Minister. Dr Graveston, Chairman of the National Gulf Veterans & Families Association presented the views of veterans and outlined the excellent support provided for its members.

Delegates were also fortunate to hear from leading scientific experts such as Professor Jack Melling, consultant to the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses, and Professor Coggon from the Medical Research Council. On this issue of War Pensions delegates heard the views of Dr Concannon, Pensions Appeals Tribunal President and Mr Peter Davies, Director Service Personnel Policy (Pensions) at the Ministry of Defence.

Lastly, an open forum session was held to discuss the issues raised during the day. There was considerable debate amongst the group relating to the review of existing War Pensions. There were particular concerns about how veterans felt that they were treated differently by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), while continuously being told that they were not a special group. Concerns were also raised about the delays in talking forward research, particularly in relation to the time that had elapsed before testing for Depleted Uranium (DU) had taken place. Veterans also felt that there was a need for further work on the incidences of cancer and mortality among Gulf War veterans. Long-held concerns were also raised with regard to the Gulf Veteran Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP), in particular, the tendency to diagnose psychiatric disorders.

If you would like further information about the conference, or Gulf War issues, please get in contact with the Legion’s Public Policy Unit – welfare-policyunit@britishlegion.org.uk.