Reid: sympathetic

Pledge on Gulf War Syndrome

His sympathetic attitude was praised by the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association as "very encouraging".

The campaigners were greeted by Dr Reid and Secretary of State for Defence George Robertson at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall for more than an hour's discussion on their claims that they have suffered lasting mystery illnesses since the conflict.

"I listened to their views and advice and we have identified a number of areas to explore action. I told them there is no magic wand, but I will leave no stone unturned in order to get to the truth," said Dr Reid.

The cause of the veterans' sickness has yet to be established but there is speculation that it was triggered by the cocktail of vaccinations they had to protect them during the conflict.

Soames: inadvertently mislead MPs

Organophosphate pesticides may also have contributed. The then Tory defence minister Nicholas Soames had to admit during the last Parliament inadvertently misleading MPs about the extent of the use of the chemicals. He said he was incorrectly briefed.

But Dr Reid said that since taking office he had seen no papers which had suggested there had been a cover-up.

Tony Flint, spokesman for the veterans' association, said the ministers had indicated there was a possibility of speeding up new research into the syndrome so that an independent team of experts could begin work straight away.

"Under normal procedures, it would be at least a year before any research got under way, but the government is considering ways this could be started almost immediately," he said.

Major Ian Hill, chairman of the association, said he was "gratified" the Labour administration was standing by its pre-election assurances to the veterans.

"I'm a lot more optimistic now than I was under the last regime, when we had nothing better than dismissal and denial," he said.

The two parties are set to meet again within the next two to three weeks for further discussions.