LET'S just hope the Government meant what they said -- "they have learned lessons from the Gulf War 1991".

Twelve years ago, thousands of British soldiers went to the Gulf and liberated Kuwait, they unfortunately didn't topple Saddam Hussein. Some of those soldiers are now ill or have died from debilitating illnesses to which the Ministry of Defence are trying not to be responsible.

The MOD gave those vaccinations, sprayed tents with organophosphates, and also used depleted uranium tips on their shells, to which our troops were exposed. Let's hope we do not have any soldiers who are going out to the Gulf now, coming back the same way as some of the troops did in 1991. And let's hope they have learnt lessons.

Let's have an independent inquiry into what happened last time. For the sake of the troops going out there now, let's have proper answers and acknowledge a mistake had been made.

Christina Banks

(wife of Gulf War vet)

Co-ordinator for Bolton NGVFA