Gulf war veterans have to give an assurance that they will not sue the Ministry of Defence before they are given their medical records, it emerged yesterday.

 They have also been told that medical advice given by army doctors are classified and are exempt from disclosure under the code of access to government information.

 Demands for assurances that they will not sue are revealed in letters released yesterday by the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association. The ministry told former sergeant Nick Vasques from York that he could have his records on condition he gave an "assurance that you do not currently plan to sue the MoD".

 The ministry yesterday released internal reports on depleted uranium. It said: "We believe that there were no significant health risks posed to personnel who served either in the Gulf or the Balkans from exposure to DU." However, it added that it was consulting experts to establish an additional appropriate voluntary screening programme.