AT long last we are hearing reasonable noises coming from high places about illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans.

The new government is to invite veterans to put their case for compensation directly to Mr John Reid, the Armed Forces Minister.

There is also to be new research into the cocktail of vaccines and tablets they were given.

These servicemen have been treated abominably.

They went to the Gulf in the service of their country.

But when many of them started to go down with serious illnesses, ranging from cancer to memory loss, the last administration did not want to know.

There were denials and misleading statements in the House of Commons which made the veterans look like liars and malingerers.

While other countries took their veterans' claims seriously, the Ministry of Defence and senior ministers went into their familiar duck and dive routine.

Some of our veterans are now seriously ill.

Their cases must be swiftly reviewed so that compensation - granted without the necessity of long court wrangles - can make their blighted lives that little bit easier. Sadly, this country has a poor track record when it comes to looking after service personnel disabled in its service.

Therefore, it is heartening to see that the new government is moving swiftly to help these unfortunate people.

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