To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is being made by his Department for the support of families and service men and women who are subject to trauma, stress and long-term mental illness arising from war in the Gulf.

The Department has issued advice to health authorities and social service departments about contingency planning arrangements for Gulf casualties.The families of all service personnel are entitled to national health service and social services in the same way as any other resident. It will be for local services to arrange appropriate long-term care and support for all in their area who are subject to trauma, stress and long-term mental illness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted into the use of psychotherapeutic treatment as against the use of drugs in the treatment for trauma, stress and long-term mental illness in the case of service men and women and their families consequent upon the war in the Gulf.

Substantial research has been undertaken into the appropriate role of drugs and psychotherapy in the treatment of trauma, stress and long-term mental illness in respect of previous conflicts. The war in the Gulf is of too recent origin to have permitted research in this area.