Defence minister promised "urgent attention"

Investigation into Gulf War Syndrome

The working lunch at the Ministry of Defence on Monday will be the second meeting between Dr Reid and the Gulf veterans since his promise, shortly after Labour's General Election victory, that he would give "urgent attention" to their complaints.

The meeting will focus on a proposed scientific investigation into the vaccines given to members of the armed forces serving in the 1991 conflict, which many veterans blame for their illnesses.

A veterans' representative, Tony Flint, said the minister had promised regular further meetings, which he said were "a real breakthrough" after "four years of banging our heads against a wall" under the Tories.

Following the meeting, Dr Reid is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons, in response to a question on the Order Paper about the illness.

Gulf War vaccines blamed for illnesses

Mr Flint said: "We want to know when they will be starting the research into the vaccines and we will be putting forward names of observers appointed by us to oversee the research, to make sure there is no danger of a cover-up.

"We will approach the subject of compensation, but I don't know how far we will get with it. We are hoping for some sort of compensation before the research is completed, as it could take years.

"To us, it is obvious, even without scientific tests, that the vaccines must have something to do with it, as the French and Saudi troops did not have them and they have not suffered from the Gulf War Syndrome, while British troops in the UK, who were given vaccines but never actually got out to the Gulf, have had problems."

Around 1,600 British veterans have complained of a wide variety of ailments. Some also fear that they have passed on illnesses to their children and spouses.

Among the complaints are chest problems, wasted muscles, chronic fatigue, depression, memory loss, headaches, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

Servicemen were given a cocktail of vaccines and anti-nerve gas tablets, to protect them against expected chemical or biological attacks.

Organophosphate pesticides may also have contributed. The former Tory Defence Minister, Nicholas Soames, had to admit during the last Parliament having misled MPs inadvertently about the extent of the use of the chemicals. He said he had been briefed incorrectly.

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