asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 1 December (WA 104), where, in the letter from the Minister for Veterans to which he referred, details are given of steps which the Ministry of Defence is taking to avoid any repetition of the finding communicated by the chairman of the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee that information given to Parliament by the Ministry of Defence in an explanatory memorandum had proved to be inaccurate; and [HL808]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 1 December (WA 104), where, in the letter from the Minister for Veterans to which he referred, details are given of steps which the Ministry of Defence has taken to ensure that in future the Ministry of Defence's consultation procedures are reliable, “not least to be able to inform Parliament properly about the impact of the measures proposed”. [HL809]

The letter from the Minister for Veterans sets out the detailed background to the issue raised by the chairman of the Merits Committee and places the matter in context (paragraphs 2 to 5). It makes it clear that while the Minister was broadly satisfied with consultation arrangements, both in this case and more generally, more can be done to engage key stakeholders even earlier in the process. It also acknowledges that we can make greater use of such tools as the internet and that officials have been instructed to take these points into account during future consultation exercises in relation to Armed Forces pension and compensation regulations (paragraph 6).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 1 December (WA 104), what account was taken when drafting the letter to which he refers of the Gulf War veterans and their families who have no access to the internet. [HL810]

We are firmly committed to timely and effective consultation, and there is no intention to use the internet alone in future consultation exercises relating to Armed Forces pension and compensation regulations.

The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme, and the Pensions Appeals Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) (Rights of Appeal) Amendment Regulations 2006 apply to all members of the Regular Armed Forces, Reserve Forces and Gurkhas who are injured, become ill or die due to service in the Armed Forces on or after 6 April 2005. It therefore does not relate in any way to illnesses or injuries causally linked to service in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict.