The Ministry of Defence bowed to domestic and European pressure yesterday, conceding to a programme of voluntary screening for war veterans worried about contamination by exposure to depleted uranium (DU) weapons.
Depleted uranium - dubbed "the silver bullet" by the Pentagon - was the super-weapon of the 1990s, used in the Gulf War as well as in the Balkans.
The concession for possibly tens of thousands of service personnel and civilians who served in Bosnia and Kosovo amounted to a dramatic U-turn, seemingly effected under pressure from 10 Downing Street, amid mounting media coverage and growing concern across Europe. But it came as a bitter blow to Gulf War veterans, who have been campaigning for a full inquiry into the issue for 10 years, and are apparently to be excluded from the proposed screening programme.
It was confirmed the decision to go ahead with the screening programme had only been taken in the preceding 12 hours, and it was announced in the absence of the Defence Secretary, Mr Geoff Hoon, who was on an official visit to Sweden. Officials said Mr Hoon had been "kept informed" while decisions were taken by ministers in London after consultations involving Downing Street and the Department of Health.
In a Commons statement the Armed Forces Minister, Mr John Spellar, said the programme was intended to provide "reassurance" for veterans following concerns expressed by other European states about the possible link between DU and leukaemia and other illnesses.
However, Mr Spellar said he did not want to "unduly alarm" service personnel and their families, and insisted that, properly handled, DU shells - used to pierce tank armour - presented no hazard to British troops and would remain in the army's arsenal for the "foreseeable future". As MOD officials maintained there was no proven connection between DU weaponry and the so-called Gulf War or Balkans syndromes, Mr Spellar told MPs: "We do recognise that some of the recent coverage will have caused concerns amongst our people and we recognise a need to reassure them."
He reported that scientific surveys would be stepped up across the Balkans to ensure serving British personnel were not at risk, and said Britain would co-operate with NATO allies over the issue. However, following Mr Spellar's announcement it was not immediately clear when the programme of screening would start or who would conduct the tests. The minister said: "Any individual who believes their health may have been damaged by service in the Balkans should seek medical advice. If their doctor considers that depleted uranium might have contributed to ill health then tests for uranium levels will be carried out."
Mr Michael Burrows, co-ordinator of the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association, said Mr Spellar's statement was "very disappointing" for Gulf and Balkans veterans.
Portuguese scientists investigating the effects of depleted uranium ammunition on soldiers said yesterday they had detected no abnormal levels of radiation at dozens of sites in Kosovo.
Meanwhile, the German defence ministry said yesterday it would investigate reports that the US and other allies may have fired depleted uranium munitions from their bases in the country.