Written question asked by Lord Beecham (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Tuesday, 25 January 2011.

Health: Contaminated Blood Products

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Earl Howe on 10 January concerning infected blood (HL Deb, cols 1229–32), what are the numbers and average level of additional discretionary payments made by the Eileen Trust and the Macfarlane Trust to applicants infected with HIV; and what is the estimated number of applications and the estimated annual cost under the newly announced scheme for hepatitis C sufferers.

Answer: In 2010-11, 277 haemophilia patients who have been infected with HIV by contaminated National Health Service supplied blood products received additional discretionary payments from the Macfarlane Trust. Payments range from £518 for individuals, to £3,625. The average discretionary payment is £3,018. Information from the Eileen Trust is not available at present, but I will inform the noble Lord of those details as soon as I receive them. At this stage it is impossible to estimate the number of applications to the new discretionary scheme for those affected by hepatitis C. We expect the scheme to begin operating after Department for Work and Pensions regulations have been amended in October 2011, to enable discretionary payments to be disregarded for the purpose of benefits assessment. £2 million will initially be made available to the discretionary scheme in 2011-12. The department will keep the funding under review.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 5718; 724 c139-40WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Blood and Blood Products
Monday, 10 January 2011
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Lords
Subjects: Compensation Contamination Blood HIV/AIDS Haemophilia Hepatitis NHS Macfarlane Trust Eileen Trust
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk